Shipowner Avenir LNG has hooked up with Croatian natural gas supply company Prvo Plinarsko Drustvo (PPD) to sell and distribute LNG by small-scale vessels and trucks from the floating storage and regasification unit the 140,000-cbm LNG Croatia (built 2005) at Krk Island.
The two companies have signed a joint collaboration agreement (JCA) and plan to use the LNG to supply off-grid industries, for power generation, marine bunkering and truck refuelling stations in Northern Italy and eastern European countries.
The new partners, which undertook a first small-scale LNG reloading operation together from the Krk Island-based FSRU in May 2021, will kick off their new business moves in October with truck distribution of LNG to Northern Italy and beyond.
“Under the JCA, the parties will also evaluate the feasibility in developing a long-term solution — together with partners — via an LNG breakbulk terminal along the Adriatic sea to service the underserved eastern European market,” Avenir said.
Chief executive Peter Mackey said: “The combination of Avenir’s small-scale LNG expertise and PPD’s local energy knowledge will allow us to reach strategic growth markets around the Adriatic sea by small-scale LNG supply chains and further enable the switching to cleaner, greener and more sustainable forms of energy.”
PPD management board member Ivana Ivancic commented: “The synergy of Avenir and PPD will contribute to the Eastern Europe and Adriatic market development bringing a sustainable alternative for businesses and people in the region.”
Avenir has been extending its reach, this month announcing plans for a new fast-track LNG terminal in Sweden.
Privately-owned PPD was set up in 2001 and has subsidiaries in Hungary, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina operating across Europe.
