Türkiye Starts Storage Expansion on Key LNG Import Terminal
BOTAŞ has started construction of a fourth LNG storage tank at Türkiye’s Marmaraereğlisi terminal, expanding capacity at one of the country’s key gas supply hubs.
(P&GJ) — BOTAŞ has started construction of a fourth LNG storage tank at the Marmaraereğlisi terminal in Tekirdağ, Türkiye, increasing the facility’s total storage capacity by about 63%.
The new tank will add 160,000 cubic meters of LNG storage, raising total capacity from 255,000 cubic meters to 415,000 cubic meters.
The Marmaraereğlisi LNG Terminal has a regasification capacity of 37 million cubic meters per day and can receive conventional LNG carriers as well as larger Q-Flex and Q-Max vessels.
About 65 LNG carriers call at the terminal annually, according to Türkiye’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. The facility supplies roughly 15% of the country’s annual natural gas demand and can inject regasified LNG into the national transmission system or load LNG onto tanker trucks.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the expansion is intended to strengthen Türkiye’s ability to respond to supply disruptions and volatility in global energy markets.
“This new investment will strengthen our natural gas infrastructure,” Bayraktar said. “The facility’s total LNG storage capacity will increase from 255,000 cubic meters to 415,000 cubic meters.”
Türkiye currently has five LNG entry points, including two onshore terminals and three floating storage and regasification units. BOTAŞ operates the Marmaraereğlisi terminal along with the Dörtyol and Saros FSRUs.
The country’s LNG regasification capacity has increased from 34 million cubic meters per day in 2016 to 161 million cubic meters per day. The ministry plans to raise that capacity to 200 million cubic meters per day through the addition of two FSRUs.