Regional Government welcomes European Parliament's recommendation for installation of LNG filling station in the Region
The Government of the Azores welcomes the recommendation of the European Parliament's Committee on Environment for the installation of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) filling station for vessels in the archipelago.
The Committee on Environment approved Thursday a proposal recommending the creation of an LNG supply structure in the Azores. It also recommended the provision of financial mechanisms in order to secure European funding for this process.
The introduction of LNG in the vessel supply chain was initially part of COSTA Project, which the Azorean Government welcomed from the very beginning. This initiative later evolved into the GAIN4MOS project, through the creation of a European consortium to develop a new project for the implementation of a multiannual programme based on the mechanism "Connecting Europe Facility."
The Region, through the Regional Port Authorities, takes part in the development of the network of pilot projects, which includes changes in vessels for the use of alternative propulsion systems, the design of new vessels fuelled by LNG, LNG storage systems and specific equipment for supplying vessels. These projects allow the compliance with European directives in this area.
The pilot project for the supply of LNG provides for the creation of a virtual pipeline in Praia da Vitória Port in order to ensure a flow of special 20 containers for the transport of LNG, thereby creating the appropriate conditions for the supply of vessels crossing the North Atlantic; it has advantages in terms of costs, efficiency and environmental impact.
Under the initiatives resulting from COSTA project, there is a plan for the retrofitting of a merchant vessel operating in the regular transport between Mainland Portugal and the Azores, which will run on dual-fuel (diesel / LNG) and, thus, reduce sulphur emissions in maritime transport.
The recommendation now issue is in line with what has been stated by the Regional Government since the beginning of this term. It promotes the geostrategic location of the archipelago and, more specifically, of Terceira Island as a key point in the European LNG supply network and maximises the potential of the unique conditions of Praia da Vitória ocean port.