Italy´s Approval to FSRU Operator to Boost Regas Capacity

Italy’s floating regasification Terminal “FSRU Toscana” has been given permission to beef up its regasification capacity, as part of the country´s broader national strategy.

Operator OLT Offshore LNG Toscana said yesterday that it has received authorisation from the country Ministry of Environment and Energy Security to increase the capacity of the FSRU Toscana from the current 3.75 billion to about 5 billion Standard cubic meters per year. The unit has a maximum authorized regasification capacity of 5 billion Sm3 per year.

OLT will also be able to receive up to 122 small LNG carriers per year to carry out the small scale LNG service.

The new service, for which the plant upgrade has been completed, provides that small LNG carriers can load LNG directly at the FSRU Toscana Terminal, to refuel LNG ships or to deliver it to coastal deposits within Mediterranean ports. The commercial offer of the service is expected soon.

OLT Offshore LNG Toscana, a company controlled by Snam and Igneo Infrastructure Partners, owns and manages the floating regasification Terminal “FSRU Toscana”. The Terminal, moored about 22 km off the coast between Livorno and Pisa, is connected to the national grid through a 36.5 km long pipeline, operated and managed by Snam.

The capacity increase does not involve plant modifications, but a greater utilization of the existing plant with increased quantities of LNG discharged and regasified.

Furthermore, the additional regasification capacity will be available starting from the next Gas Year and will be allocated according to the terms of OLT’s Regasification Code.

Giovanni Giorgi, CEO of OLT Offshore LNG Toscana said “Almost 10 years after the start of operations at the Terminal, we can proudly begin a new chapter in our history. Thanks to the increase in the authorized regasification capacity and in the number of berths of the SSLNGc, as part of the new Small Scale LNG service, FSRU Toscana will be able to further increase its contribution to diversification and security of supply. We operate a safe and high-performance infrastructure that over the years has supported the Italian energy system without ever derogating from the most stringent targets of safety and environmental and social sustainability.”