HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada and UK Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change Michael Fallon inaugurating the new offices of South Hook Gas and South Hook LNG Terminal at London’s iconic Shard building.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) import company South Hook Gas and the London office of the regasification facility South Hook LNG Terminal yesterday celebrated their fifth anniversary and the move to London’s iconic Shard building.
Established in 2004 and based in London, South Hook Gas is a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum International (70%) and ExxonMobil (30%). South Hook LNG’s shareholders are Qatar Petroleum International, ExxonMobil and Total.
The new offices were inaugurated by HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada and UK Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change Michael Fallon in the presence of Qatar’s ambassador in London, Khalid bin Rashid al-Mansouri, and other senior officials.
Speaking on the occasion, al-Sada hailed “the great relations between the State of Qatar and the United Kingdom, nurtured and developed under the leaderships of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and Queen Elizabeth II”.
“Our historic relations extend to every aspect of life in both our countries and are a true model of promoting co-operation, mutual understanding, and the appreciation of cultures, traditions and people.”
Al-Sada noted that South Hook Gas was happy to be one of the contributors to the UK’s energy security. “In just five years, South Hook Gas has grown rapidly to become the largest LNG importer in the UK and one of the largest in Europe. It is a reliable energy partner that is capable of meeting up to one fifth of total UK demand.”
He congratulated the team at South Hook LNG Terminal for a fantastic job in managing a safe and efficient facility, and for transforming it into an important part of the UK’s gas infrastructure.
Fallon reiterated the Qatari minister’s comments about the vital contribution of these companies to the UK gas market.
“Qatar has an excellent reputation as a reliable supplier of gas, not just to the UK but around the world. South Hook’s facility at Milford Haven is a key element in ensuring UK energy security,” he said.
“Qatari investment in London, including here at the Shard, shows that the UK is highly attractive to investors abroad, creating jobs and growth at home.”
As companies with distinct shareholder structures, both South Hook Gas and South Hook LNG Terminal have separate operating parameters, with South Hook Gas being based solely in London.
The company manages the capacity of the terminal, by either importing LNG, or by offering regasification services to other companies. South Hook LNG Terminal, responsible for the operation of the facility located at the Port of Milford Haven in West Wales, has a naturally smaller administrative presence in London.
South Hook LNG Terminal is one of Europe’s LNG regasification facilities. It has the processing capacity of 15.6mn tonnes per annum and is capable of delivering0 up to 21 billion cubic metres per annum of gas into the National Transmission System – equivalent to around 20% of current UK gas needs.