SPEC LNG operates the FSRU-based terminal in which Promigas has a 51 percent stake, while Vopak holds 49 percent.
The facility features the 170,000-cbm FSRU, Hoegh Grace, owned by Norway’s Hoegh LNG and chartered by SPEC LNG.
Vaopak announced in its third-quarter results report that a final investment decision has been made to increase regasification capacity, stating that the additional sendout capacity will support existing and new customers in Colombia’s gas market.
LNG Prime contacted Vopak to provide further details on the capacity increase and the timeline.
Maarten Smeets, Vopak’s EVP for global business development, said that Vopak’s part of the investment amounts to 25 million euros ($28.9 million).
This means that the entire project is worth a bit more than 50 million euros ($57.7 million).
Smeets said that the regasification capacity will be expanded by 33 percent, while the investment is backed by long-term contracts.
“The additional capacity will diversify SPEC business offering to new industrial customers and get connected to the country’s gas grid,” he said.
Smeets did not provide further details.
Cartagena FSRU
Last year, Hoegh Evi and SPEC LNG signed a new agreement for Colombia’s only FSRU-based LNG import facility.
Hoegh Evi said the initial term of the FSRU charter deal is 20 years from late 2016.
However, each party has an unconditional option to cancel the charter after 10 and 15 years without any termination fee.
The new agreement with SPEC enables continuity and increase of energy supply through at least 2031, Hoegh said.
This means that the charter contract has been extended for five years.
SPEC LNG said at the time that under the new deal, the FSRU-based terminal will regasify up to 533 MMscfd, an increase from a current limit of 400 MMscfd.
This will allow the facility to meet up to 50 percent of Colombia’s natural gas demand, it said.
In September 2024, the FSRU-based LNG import facility in Cartagena completed its 100th ship-to-ship transfer since 2016.
SPEC LNG said in a recent social media post that it has completed the 150th STS transfer with a cargo from the US.
