National Grid has submitted a planning application to Medway Council to enable it to construct an additional jetty, two more storage tanks and additional process equipment at its Isle of Grain LNG importation terminal.

If granted, National Grid could construct facilities at the terminal to give a further five million tonnes of long term LNG importation capacity per annum. This would increase the total capacity at the Isle of Grain LNG importation terminal to almost fifteen million tonnes per annum.

An application has also been made by National Grid to Ofgem for an exemption from the Regulated Third Party Access (RTPA) arrangements to apply to the additional capacity being offered at the importation terminal.

National Grid started an open season process in December to offer LNG shippers the ability to bid for the right to berth LNG carriers and unload LNG into the facility for its temporary storage, prior to regasification and delivery of gas into the UK’s National Transmission System.

Firm bids are now being requested as part of this open season process, the third to be undertaken at the Grain LNG terminal by National Grid.

The additional capacity could be available ahead of winter 2010/11, but is subject to appropriate market interest, obtaining the necessary permissions for further site development and regulatory consents.

ENDS

For more information, please contact National Grid Press Office:

Louise Farrell             +44 (0)1926 655373   +44 (0) 7974 949989 (m)

Christine Riches        + 44 (0) 7785 508661 (m)

Photographs of the existing National Grid Grain LNG terminal are available from www.newscast.co.uk.

For further information visit www.nationalgrid.com/uk/grainlng