The repurposed tanker “Alexandroupolis,” now a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU), has reached the Alexandroupolis port and is anticipated to commence operations by the first quarter of 2024, supplying natural gas to multiple countries, including Macedonia.

The project operator, “Gastrade,” considers the tanker’s arrival a significant milestone, marking the finalization of this prominent national and regional project.

The FSRU will soon be anchored using a 12-point mooring system and connected to high-pressure subsea and onshore gas transmission pipelines. Once operational, it will deliver natural gas to various countries in the region, enhancing supply to Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Serbia, and further extending to Moldova, Ukraine, Hungary, and Slovakia. With a planned maximum regasification capacity of 5.5 billion cubic meters annually, the Terminal aims to be commercially operational by early 2024 after completing testing activities.

Elmina Copelouzou, Gastrade Board Chairperson, sees the tanker’s arrival as a tangible step toward realizing the Floating Regasification Unit and initiating the Alexandroupolis LNG project.

Kostis Sifnaios, Gastrade Managing Director, emphasizes that the FSRU’s arrival signifies a pivotal moment not only for Greece but also for the broader Southeastern and Central European region. The Terminal is poised to serve as a new natural gas entry point, promoting regional cooperation and bolstering supply security.

Renamed after the municipality, the FSRU underwent nearly a ten-month conversion at the Seatrium shipyard in Singapore.

Crucially, the LNG terminal project has received co-financing from the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund through the Operational Programme “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation (EPAnEK)” within the NSRF 2014-2020 framework.