Liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries to Greece surged in the January-June period of this year due to higher volumes from the US, according to DESFA.
DESFA said in a report that its LNG import terminal located on the island of Revithoussa received in total 39 vessels during the six months, compared to just 15 shipments in the same period last year.
The shipments totaled 16.61 terawatt hours, compared to 10.76 TWh in 2021, the Greek gas grid and LNG terminal operator said.
US LNG deliveries via the Revithoussa terminal surged to 9.79 TWh and compare to 4.09 TWh in the same period last year.
The US remained the largest LNG supplier to Greece with a 58.94 percent share of all LNG imports in the period under review, DESFA said.
Algeria supplied 2.47 TWh of LNG to Greece in January-June, followed by Egypt with 2 TWh, Nigeria with 1.20 TWh, and Oman with 1.03 TWh. About 0.11 TWh also came from Indonesia.
Qatar did not deliver any LNG cargoes during the January-June period, according to DESFA.
The company said that 44.5 percent of all imported gas to Greece in the six months, including pipeline gas, came via the Revithoussa terminal. The facility became the country’s main natural gas entry gate during the period.
Total gas imports amounted to 38.92 TWh, showing an increase of 3.6 percent from the last year, DESFA said.
LNG imports to continue to rise
LNG deliveries to Greece are expected to significantly rise in the future as Europe looks to reduce its reliance on Russian gas supplies.
The European Union sees Greece as an important hub for ensuring energy security in southeastern Europe.
DESFA, owned by a consortium led by Italy’s Snam, earlier this year revealed plans to boost storage capacity at the Revithoussa facility.
The company is also a shareholder in Greece’s LNG terminal developer, Gastrade.
Gastrade’s shareholders DESFA, Copelouzou, DEPA, GasLog, and Bulgartransgaz in January took a final divestment decision on the first FSRU-based import project in Greece.
Gastrade is also planning to install a second FSRU offshore Alexandroupolis, while Dioriga Gas, a unit of Motor Oil, is looking to develop another FSRU-based import project in Greece’s Gulf of Corinth.
In addition, Greece’s Mediterranean Gas, the developer of an FSRU-based import project which includes ExxonMobil, has also received approval for its planned development in the port of Volos.
Elpedison, a power firm owned by Greece’s Hellenic Petroleum and Italy’s Edison, revealed plans to install an FSRU off Thessaloniki as well.
