Montoir LNG restart delayed by pipeline works: Update

Updates new sendout restart date in paragraph three to 23 August

Maintenance at France's 8mn t/yr Montoir LNG import terminal has been repeatedly delayed because of "technical difficulties" relating to the replacement of two sections of a pipeline at the terminal, operator Elengy told Argus.

The pipeline links the gas odorisation station and the GRTgaz grid injection station. Gas in France is odorised at all grid network levels, including transmission, rather than solely distribution networks. The works were completed last week, and the terminal is preparing for its cool-down phase, Elengy said.

The end of works has been delayed 10 times, and sendout is now scheduled to restart on 23 August. Sendout was due to return on 21 August, according to Elengy nominations earlier today, although this was delayed again to 23 August later in the day.

The terminal has been off line since 15 June, and was initially due to resume sendout on 8 July.

Sendout from the terminal is nominated to average 154 GWh/d for 21-31 August, down from the 240 GWh/d nominated for the period on 19 August, according to Elengy data (see sendout graph). And one delivery for late August has been removed from the schedule (see stocks graph).

By Martin Senior

Montoir sendout nominations

Montoir LNG stocks