Jera announced on Thursday that it has signed a throughput agreement with LNG terminal operator Dunkerque LNG to secure regasification capacity of 2 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year, equivalent to approximately 1.5 million tonnes of LNG annually.
The agreement is for six years starting from 2031.
According to Jera, the new agreement complements its expanding LNG procurement portfolio, including the 5.5 million tonnes per year of new long‑term LNG supply from the US under flexible FOB contracts
By securing regasification capacity at the terminal, Jera “enhances the flexibility of its global LNG portfolio, enabling more efficient balancing of LNG supply and demand across regions.”
“This also creates opportunities to respond to demand differences between Asia and Europe while supporting the diversification of the company’s LNG sales flows,” the company said.
Jera noted that Japan’s LNG demand has become “increasingly variable” due to the aging of oil‑fired power plants and the rapid expansion of renewable energy, while geopolitical and market uncertainty continues to grow.
As a result, greater flexibility in fuel procurement and operations is becoming increasingly important to maintaining energy security, the company said.
Looking ahead, Jera said it will continue to develop a robust, globally balanced LNG portfolio spanning the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region, and the US to enhance resilience against market volatility.
Fully booked until 2036
As a result of this agreement with Jera, the entire available capacity of the Dunkerque LNG terminal — or 13 billion cubic meters per year — is now fully contracted until 2036, Fluxys-led Dunkerque LNG said in a separate statement.
Regasification capacities are available as of 2037, the LNG terminal operator said.
Dunkerque LNG owners include two groups, with the first consortium led by Fluxys.
Dunkerque LNG is 61 percent owned by a consortium comprising Fluxys, Asterion Industrial, and Credit Agricole Assurances, and 39 percent owned by a consortium of Korean investors led by IPM Group in cooperation with Samsung Asset Management.
Last year, Spanish infrastructure investor Asterion Industrial purchased a minority stake in the Dunkirk LNG terminal.
The investor bought a 25 percent stake in FluxDune, and indirectly, an approximately 15 percent stake in Dunkerque LNG.
Commissioned in January 2017, the LNG terminal has an annual regasification capacity of 13 bcm.
Additionally, previous shareholders EDF and TotalEnergies are the primary customers of the LNG terminal, holding 20-year contracts.
Last year, US energy giant ConocoPhillips also booked regasification capacity at the Dunkirk LNG facility.
