Keeping Europe supplied

The design of the Dunkirk LNG terminal began in 2006, followed by a five-year construction period which started at the end of 2011. The terminal was commissioned in July 2016 and started commercial operations on 1 January 2017. With an annual throughput capacity of 13 billion m3 and a total storage capacity of 600 000 m3, it is one of the largest LNG terminals in Europe. From the very beginning of the project in 2006, there was a strong focus on a safe, durable, maintenance-friendly design with limited operational constraints and no emission as a result of the recovery of warm water from a nearby nuclear power plant.

An ideal location

Dunkirk LNG has a distinctive positioning, it is the only zero-emissions terminal providing a direct access to two gas markets located in the heart of Northwest Europe (France and Belgium) and offers a bundled service including unloading, reloading, storage, and regasification. This can be complemented by a large panel of add-on services bookable throughout the year such as small scale LNG related services (truck loading, small scale reloading, etc.). This allows shippers to optimise their portfolio and respond quickly to changing market dynamics. Beyond France and Belgium, Dunkerque LNG presents a privileged gateway to the European LNG market. The French and Belgian gas systems are very well connected to the other neighbouring European countries through non-congested interconnection capacities. In this respect, France is ideally positioned both along the main North-South European gas route which serves South Europe’s countries (Italy and Iberia) and along the main West-East

Cedric Vandenbroucke, Dunkerque LNG, France, details the truck loading services available at the Dunkirk LNG terminal.

Figure 1. Aerial view of the West side of the Dunkirk LNG terminal.

European gas route which serves North West Europe’s countries (Belgium, UK, and Germany), opening a large and deep market for LNG volumes imported through the Dunkirk LNG terminal.

What is the vision of the Port of Dunkirk in terms of carbon neutrality?

In Dunkirk, the greening of the Port was initiated very early, in the 2010s, due to the closure of refineries, then seen as an opportunity to reflect on the energies of the future and to anticipate the development of less carbon-intensive energies, even carbon-free.

Following on from these reflections, several major projects have emerged. The objective is to make the Dunkirk Port area the cornerstone of the supply of renewable energies in the Dunkirk territory. As a result of its actions, the Port intends to accelerate its greening in order to achieve a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 (compared to 1990) and carbon neutrality in 2050, which are the two objectives of the French government to fight against climate change.

How is this objective achieved?

In June 2017, Dunkirk Port and Dunkerque LNG signed a partnership agreement for the development of an LNG truck loading station. Through this agreement, Dunkirk Port accompanied Dunkerque LNG in its commitment to build and then operate the loading station as part of a larger project to set up an LNG bunkering service by land and sea at the Port of Dunkirk, thus offering a wide range of LNG fuelling possibilities to the market.

How did the commissioning of the truck loading station go?

Figure 2. A truck is positioned at the loading bay.

Figure 3. A driver manipulates the loading arms. The LNG truck loading station at the Dunkirk LNG terminal has been in service since November 2020. It immediately operated optimally, and from May 2021 the company was able to start operations with the terminal’s LNG suppliers.

Dunkerque LNG took another step forward when the temporary closure of a European terminal last June caused the market to seek other sources of supply. The company addressed its responsibility towards the value chain. Between May and July 2021, it achieved an average utilisation rate of 80%. The terminal teams mobilised to meet customer demand, in particular by offering an assisted service 24 hours a day, six days a week. The teams were able to manage contingencies and ensure rescheduling in order to optimise the use of the station. In total, as of 1 November 2021, 700 loads have already been completed, including 630 since May alone, thus demonstrating Dunkerque LNG’s responsiveness to the market.

What services are available?

Dunkerque LNG’s truck loading bay has a capacity of 3000 slots per year. Assisted loading services are offered from Monday to Friday from 5.30 am to 6.45 pm (last slot) and self-loading services from Monday at midnight to Saturday 6.45 pm (last slot).

Assisted loadings are performed with the assistance of an operator and self loadings are those performed by the drivers themselves without assistance. To be able to use an unmanned slot, the driver needs to perform three assisted loadings with specific training from the operator. At the same time the driver needs to follow an e-learning training.

The Dunkirk LNG terminal is the first in Europe to offer an autonomous tanker truck loading service. After this, they can load on their own, especially at night. This innovation makes it possible to offer a service to the market at a more competitive price.

What is the process for trucks to be approved at the truck loading bay?

In order for trucks to be approved, transporters have to send all documentation prior to the loading in order for a compatibility study to be performed three weeks before the loading. This documentation is shared on a secure online platform; every transporter has access to their account and can upload and update all relevant documentation regarding trucks and drivers.

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Figure 4. A truck passes in front of tank 3.

How does loading work?

The station is automated both in terms of operations and safety – almost no manual handling is necessary except for the connection and disconnection of the arms. The loading operation as well as the sequences before and after loading such as the preliminary leak test, the depressurisation of the tank, and the emptying of the arms after loading are managed from the touch screen. The loading is carried out with an articulated arm which allows the operator or driver to handle it easily.

What are customers doing with this LNG?

Supply by tanker truck, or imported LNG, is a rapidly expanding market across Europe. This activity makes it possible to deliver fuel to industrial sites which are not connected to the gas network and also to deliver service stations which sell LNG in the form of fuel for heavy goods vehicles.

What is the next step for the company’s truck loading services?

In October, a call to market was launched for the sale of the remaining annual capacities. Dunkerque LNG also offers its customers monthly contracts with flexible terms. The station has already captured part of the market, especially in the north of France. Due to its location, the station has already captured a large part of the market from the Paris region to the north of France. In accordance with the regulations, tankers which do not cross borders can load 44 t of LNG instead of 40 t. The company is attentive to market developments in order to continue to meet the expectations of its customers.

Conclusion

Haulage companies, as well as remote industry, increasingly choose LNG as alternative low emission fuel. Dunkerque LNG remains a key player in LNG in Europe serving a greener chain. Its infrastructure is designed to guarantee a source of supply in a booming market context. The commissioning of this loading bay brings a new source of supply to the northern European market with innovative services at a competitive price.

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