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LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG) SUPPLY: CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST-WINNERS NAMED
21st january 2015

On 25 April 2014, following the implementation of the European directive for a drastic reduction in sulphur emissions from ships, particularly in the Channel and North Sea area, and with the forthcoming opening of the LNG Terminal, Dunkerque-Port issued a Call for Expressions of Interest (CEI) for the setup of a marine bunkering and on-land supply chain of small-scale LNG from the port of Dunkirk.

This CEI served initially to identify the operators interested in this activity, and the selected candidates were then asked to structure and submit a project file on 8 September 2014.

The tenders were analysed to identify the most attractive proposal, which was the one submitted by the "Dunkerque LNG – Air Liquide – Exmar Marine NV" consortium. This consortium was therefore appointed the winner of the CEI.

The successful bidders will first make an in-depth study of the project in order to define the best conditions for its execution. At present, the project is expected to be implemented in a number of phases, beginning with the construction of an LNG-filling station for tank trucks, followed by the construction of an LNG bunkering ship and the necessary adaptation of the present wharf to allow its berthing.

Lastly, depending on the trends of the market, a subsequent phase could see the building of a new dedicated pier for LNG bunkering.

An agreement is currently being drawn up between Dunkerque-Port and the selected consortium. At the same time an application for co-funding, notably under the European Union's TEN-E proposals scheme, is being prepared and must be submitted to the European agency by the national authorities no later than 26 February.

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