BW Paris can serve as regional LNG hub: BW LNG
Floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) BW Paris, which has been chartered by Manila-listed First Gen Corp, can serve as a regional hub that can facilitate LNG use in the Philippines and help the country transition to cleaner energy, BW LNG's managing director Yngvil Asheim told an industry webinar on May 26.
“BW Paris can not only play a role in energy security but also give access to LNG to a large part of the country. We want to be part of the Philippines' effort to reduce carbon footprint,” she said.
First Gen last month signed a five-year deal with BW Gas for the charter of BW Paris for its LNG import terminal in the Philippines. The FSRU has an LNG storage capacity of 162,400 m3 and nominal and peak gas send-out capacities of 500mn ft3/day and 750mn ft3/day, respectively.
In addition to providing storage and regasification services, the BW Paris is capable of providing ancillary services such as the reloading of LNG into trucks and small-scale LNG vessels, which can then distribute LNG to nearby industrial areas as well as the rest of the Philippine archipelago.
“We look forward to working with First Gen in developing both small-scale distribution and trucking services,” Asheim said. “We have made sure BW Paris is ready for these developments.”
Asheim stated that gas can play an important role along with renewable energy in reducing the carbon footprint in the Philippines.
“Switching for coal to gas can immediately reduce carbon footprint by about 50%. It also takes away damaging local emissions like NOx and SOx,” she said. “We feel gas is the best friend of renewable energy, which is intermittent in nature. Sun is shining in the Philippines but not always. The wind is blowing but not always. You need grid stability and that is when gas comes in.”