General description of the FSRU LE HAVRE project

Le Havre LNG terminal: responding quickly to a crisis situation

The war in Ukraine has hastened the need for France and the European Union ("EU") to limit their dependence on Russian gas imports and diversify their sources of gas supply. 

Law No. 2022-1158 of August 16^th 2022 on emergency measures for the protection of purchasing power (the "Purchasing Power Law") includes provisions to guarantee the security of gas supply to the France and provides for the possibility of installing a floating LNG terminal on the port site of Le Havre. 

The following objectives were selected for the definition of this project:

• rapid commissioning;
• flexible operating time;
• significant additional import capacity for the France;
• an infrastructure that is easily integrated into GRTgaz's transmission network.

The Le Havre terminal project, led by TotalEnergies LNG Services France (TELSF), is a response adapted to these objectives:

• the "Cape Ann", a FSRU (Floating Storage and Regasification Unit) vessel, which can be used as a floating terminal, can be mobilized quickly by TotalEnergies.
• TELSF ensures the installation, commissioning and operation of the FSRU in the port of Le Havre.
• The FSRU is located close to the French transmission network operated by GRTgaz, its connection can be made quickly by adding a secion of pipe.

By decree dated March 13^th, 2023, the Minister of Energy Transition has set the objectives of the floating LNG plant installation project:

This new LNG import point, with a throughput capacity of up to 155 GWh/day, will make it possible to receive and transmit on the network volumes representing up to 10% of France's annual natural gas consumption. It will contribute to the continuity of supply and the security of energy supply of the France while being part of a broader context of security of supply of natural gas to the European Union.

Thanks to its geographical position, it will promote a better balance of the gas transmission network, reducing the likelihood of congestion that can affect the operation of the entire French gas system when gas inflows into the north of the country are reduced. 
 

The 5th French terminal

Le Havre Floating Terminal is the fifth LNG terminal in France. The other four terminals, all land-based, are:

1. the Dunkirk LNG terminal with an average capacity of 410 GWh/day
2. the Montoir LNG terminal with an average capacity of 340 GWh/day
3. the Fos Cavaou LNG terminal with an average capacity of 320 GWh/day
4. the Fos Tonkin LNG terminal with an average capacity of 50 GWh/day

Commercialization of terminal capacity

By decree dated April 21, 2023, TotalEnergies LNG Services France has obtained an exemption from 3rd party access obligations and regulated tariffs from the Ministry of Energy Transition. This provides that 50% of the terminal's capacity is reserved by TotalEnergies. 

The remaining 50% of capacity is marketed by TELSF to market players in compliance with the principles of transparency and non-discrimination, according to rules approved by the Commission de Régulation de l'Energie in its deliberation of March 16, 2023.

Le Havre and LNG: a long history that began in 1962..., which continues, 60 years later

This new terminal project marks the rebirth of an activity at the port of Le Havre that was the pioneer in this field. The first LNG terminal in continental Europe, construction of which began in 1962, was commissioned in Le Havre in 1965.   It had a total storage capacity of 36,000 m3.  On 28 March 1965, the ship "Jules Verne", built in the shipyard of Le Trait in Seine Maritime, delivered its very first cargo, marking the beginning of the French industrial history of LNG.  After almost 25 years of loyal service, its operation was stopped in 1989.