Govt repeats reassurances on LNG bunkering

The Gibraltar Government said no LNG bunkering would be permitted until all relevant safety and environmental requirements are met.

The government made the statement in response to concerns raised by the ESG last week and said its position on LNG bunkering remained unchanged.

The potential to establish an LNG bunkering market in Gibraltar was one of the main reasons for global players such as Shell bidding for the LNG power station project, it said.

“The ESG are aware that for some time, the Government and Shell have been considering the possibility of LNG bunkering via an LNG barge,” No 6 Convent Place said in a statement.

“However, the Government of Gibraltar can guarantee that these plans will not advance until the COMAH investigations are successfully completed.”

“The Government reiterates yet again that no LNG bunkering whatsoever will occur until all necessary environmental and safety requirements are satisfied.”

The Government also confirmed that, contrary to the ESG’s statement, there were no

current plans for an onshore LNG bunkering facility.

However, it described LNG as “the fuel of the future” and said the government cannot rule out the potential for LNG bunkering to happen onshore in the future.

“To do so would be irresponsible to future generations,” the government said.

“As the Chief Minister stated on the 22nd August, if ever such a decision were to be made, onshore LNG bunkering would be subject to its own further safety assessment.”

“From the outset, the Government has made it extremely clear that this would be a long term

project that aims to ensure safe, reliable, economical and clean energy for the next 30 years.”

“In these uncertain times, safeguarding the energy security of future generations of

Gibraltarians is more important than ever.