One of NGV2014 Brussels’ main networking activities, the Study Tour took place today at two major sites: an LCNG station located at the Port of Antwerp, and an LNG terminal located at the Port of Zeebrugge. During both visits, all participants showed extremely interested in the facilities as well in the technical procedures and made several questions. For the first time in the NGVAEurope’s study tour history, attendees were able to visit an LNG terminal at a harbor.
LCNG station
Constructed in one of the world’s biggest port (Port of Antwerp), the first location was an LCNG filling station, which is part of EU’s LNG Blue Corridor project. It is operated by Drive Systems and was installed by Bohlen Doyen featuring equipment manufactured by Vanzetti. It offers both LNG and CNG and the fuel is transported by trucks from Fluxys terminal (the other Study Tour’s key site).
This is the first public LCNG fueling site in Belgium serving various transportation logistics companies with Volvo FM Dual Fuel trucks. These fleets can access savings of 25% when using LNG compared to diesel fuel. Moreover, during the visit there was a refueling demonstration of an Iveco LNG truck.
Didier Hendrickx, Marketing Manager at ARGB (Association Royale des Gaziers Belges) and Chairman of NGVA.be, took part of this activity and commented to NGVJournal.com that Belgium currently has 19 CNG stations in operation and that there are 20 more projects underway.
LNG terminal
The Study Tour’s second location involved a facility located at the Port of Zeebrugge. Since operations started in 1987, about 1,400 LNG carriers have docked at this terminal, loading or unloading around 78 million of tons of LNG.
The site is operated by Fluxys, NGV2014 Brussels Bronze Sponsor, which has business in eight countries. It offers LNG bunkering to trucks and ships and also supplies natural gas through pipeline -mainly for domestic use- to Northwest Europe.
Since the terminal building is big, participants had a bus guided tour around the site. When they got off the bus, Fluxys offered details about the facility. Representatives said that the company is betting on this terminal and there are plans to expand it as LNG gains momentum in Belgium as well in Northern Europe.
Photos from 1 to 3: LCNG station
Photos from 4 to 6: LNG terminal
