04-06-08 German utility group RWE has completed the acquisition of a 50 % stake in the US-based liquefied natural gas company Excelerate Energy.
RWE Supply & Trading, responsible for the RWE Group's Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) business, is buying the stake from private investor George Kaiser, who will continue to own the remaining stake.

Excelerate currently has long-term charters for five operational LNG vessels, four of which are equipped with onboard regasification technology. The US-based company's fleet is expected to increase to at least eight vessels by 2010.
Excelerate also owns operational import facilities for LNG. In addition to its Teesside GasPort in the UK, two gateways are connected to the US gas grid.