100th cargo berths at National Grid's LNG terminal at the Isle of Grain in Kent

06/04/2009

National Grid is delighted to announce the arrival of the 100th cargo of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at its importation terminal at the Isle of Grain in Kent.

The Berge Arzew, which berthed at Grain LNG on Sunday 05 April 2009, is the same ship that brought the original commissioning cargo when the terminal began LNG importation in July 2005.

With the demand for gas rising, and domestic production from the North Sea continuing to decline, the UK will need to import around 50% of its gas by 2010. The importation of liquefied natural gas is set to fill a large part of the supply gap.

Since it was first commissioned in July 2005, Grain LNG has delivered approximately 7 billion cubic metres of gas. This is enough to meet average winter demand for the whole of the UK for 21 days. The most gas Grain LNG has delivered in one day is approximately 31 million cubic metres, on 5 March 2009.

Peter Boreham, National Grid’s Director of UK LNG, said: ”The delivery of the 100th cargo of LNG shows the important role the terminal is playing in enabling the UK to have increased security and diversity in gas supplies.

"The terminal’s capacity increased to 12% of UK gas demand with the successful completion this winter, to time and budget, of the phase 2 expansion, and with phase 3 expansion work which is underway we will have the capacity to provide 20% of UK demand for the winter of 2010/11.”

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For further media information only, please contact Doranna Rizzo, National Grid Media Relations, on 01926 655373

Notes to Editors:

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