Greenpeace Blocks Arrival of New LNG Unit at French Port
(Reuters) — A new LNG floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) arrived in western France on Monday morning, a TotalEnergies' spokesperson said, as activist group Greenpeace tried to prevent it from entering port.
Demand for LNG in Europe has grown in the wake of the war in Ukraine, with France relying on its four LNG terminals to replace Russian gas imports and help supply neighbors like Germany.
The Cape Ann tanker, which holds the new FSRU, arrived at Le Havre port on Monday morning, LSEG ship tracking data showed.
However, environmental group Greenpeace blocked the tanker's course in protest at what they say is a contradiction between the new terminal and a government pledge last year to make France the first major nation to phase out fossil fuels, a press release from the group said.
"This terminal must not be commissioned and the government must abandon all new fossil infrastructure projects and any plans to extend existing infrastructure," Helene Bourges, head of Greenpeace France's fossil fuel campaign, said.
Activists in kayaks blocked the ship's passage to the port entrance, Greenpeace said, adding that members of the group Scientists in Rebellion were also present and supporting the action.
A TotalEnergies spokesperson said the company respects the right to demonstrate.
However, they added that it "deplores any form of violence, whether verbal, physical or material", saying that the safety of both the sailors and the activists was their priority.
The gas infrastructure installed at Le Havre is expected to be in operation for five years and can process five billion cubic meters of LNG annually, the spokesperson said.
Alex Froley, LNG analyst at data intelligence firm ICIS, said the FSRU would be tied into local gas networks before it was ready to start delivering the fuel onshore.
A separate industry source agreed that it would take several days before gas deliveries could begin.
Froley added that current gas supply situation looked "very comfortable", with strong onshore gas storage levels in Europe, and ongoing warm weather keeping heating demand low.
Related News
Related News

- Poland Detects Leak in Russia's Druzhba Oil Pipeline
- Magellan Midstream Approves $18.8 Billion Sale to ONEOK, Creating Major U.S. Pipeline Player
- Energy Transfer to Buy Crestwood in $7.1 Billion Pipeline Deal
- DT Midstream Successfully Completes Phase 1 LEAP Expansion Ahead of Schedule
- South Dakota Denies Permit for Summit Carbon Solutions' 495-Mile CO2 Pipeline Segment
- Canada Looking to Sell Trans Mountain Pipeline Stake to Indigenous Groups
- Energy Transfer to Buy Crestwood in $7.1 Billion Pipeline Deal
- Criteria to Consider in Selecting Water Transfer Flow Meters
- US Energy Firm Payouts to Oil Investors Top Exploration Spending for First Time
- DT Midstream Successfully Completes Phase 1 LEAP Expansion Ahead of Schedule
Comments