Qatar to supply 20 % of UK’s gas demand via LNG shipments
Qatar could supply up to 20 % of the UK's gas demand by 2009 through liquefied natural gas shipments, UK Energy
Minister Malcolm Wicks said.
The first shipment from Qatar is due upon completion of the South Hook LNG terminal in Milford Haven, Wales, in 2007,
Wicks said before to travelling to the International Energy Forum in Doha.
"Qatar gas fields will help increase the diversity of the UK's energy mix and increase our reliability of supply.
This is a key issue for global energy markets amid increasing oil price volatility," he said.
The South Hook Terminal will import LNG from the largest field in the world and when complete could provide the UK
with up to 20 % of its gas demand. The cost of the South Hook project is currently estimated to be $ 12 bn, the
Department of Trade and Industry said.
Phase one of the terminal construction is due to finish in the last quarter of 2007 and will have the capacity to
deliver 33 mm cmpd into the UK gas network. Phase two is due to finish in 2009 and will increase the terminal's
capacity by 26 mm cmpd to a total 59 mm cmpd, the DTI added.
The project is operated by the South Hook Terminal Company, owned by ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum.
