Malta Looking Into Gas Bunkering Through Sicily Pipeline
Malta is studying the possibility of introducing LNG bunkering infrastructure through its planned gas pipeline to Sicily.
An EU-funded study, which is being carried out by Belgian energy consultancy firm Tractabel, was launched late last year to investigate the feasibility of introducing LNG bunkering infrastructure on the island. This is in line with an EU decarbonisation directive that encourages the development of LNG re-fuelling infrastructure for ships in main European ports.
“The overall objective of the study is to analyse the feasibility of introducing LNG bunkering infrastructure, taking into account the economical and environmental aspect, market demand, geographical properties, risk and safety features and the overall attractiveness of the project,” the study description reads. “The study will also look into alternatives, basing results on the socio-economic cost-benefit analysis and risk assessments. Finally the study will also aim at filling legislative gaps within the sector and providing necessary training for the implementation and operation of such infrastructure.”
“The outcome of this study shall facilitate the Government’s task in setting up a national policy in this field, with the ultimate aim being to stimulate LNG uptake as a marine fuel and to attract potential investors in this sector.”
Daniel Azzopardi, CEO of the Energy and Water Agency in charge of the pipeline, told Lovin Malta the study is still at a very early stage and that gas bunkering is being analysed as just one of several possibilities.
“If there is a demand for bunkering, then natural gas imported through the pipeline could be liquefied and used to bunker ships, but of course not at the cost of power generation.”
The pipeline will connect Delimara, Malta to Gela, Sicily, and therefore to the European gas network grid. It will be 159km in length and have a diameter of 22cm, meaning it will be able to deliver up to two billion cubic metres of natural gas per year to the Delimara power stations.
Azzopardi said the pipeline will be future-proof and will be able to carry enough natural gas to cater for Malta’s envisaged economic growth in the next four decades. He confirmed that Malta will maintain full control over how much gas it purchases from Italy, and will not be in any way bound to purchase more gas than it needs for power generation.
Connection to the European grid means Malta will eventually have access to gas from Russia, as well as from Azerbaijan through the planned Trans-Anatolian and Trans-Adriatic pipelines. However, the lion’s share of Malta’s gas is expected to originate from the Greenstream pipeline connecting Sicily with Libya and from the Trans-Mediterranean Pipeline connecting Sicily with Algeria and Tunisia.
“The pipeline shall offer the best of both worlds in that it enables Malta to tap gas delivered from any source supplying the Italian/European gas grid,” Azzopardi said.
Construction on the pipeline is expected to start in 2020, conclude by 2024 and cost around €322 million. When constructed, it will also replace the unsightly tanker in Marsaxlokk Bay which is currently providing LNG to the Delimara power station.
Preparation has already started: the terminal stations at Delimara and Gela have been identified, Malta and Sicily have signed a collaboration deal to facilitate the granting of permits in Italy, and tenders were issued last month for a marine survey, environmental studies, a detailed engineering design and the financial engineering of the project. In October, Malta submitted an EU application to obtain a significant chunk of funds for these studies under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
What do you make of the planned gas pipeline project?
READ NEXT: 22 Things You Need To Know About Malta’s Energy Use
