Türkiye’s first LNG terminal contributes to region’s supply security with land tanker exports

The Marmara Ereglisi LNG Terminal, which has stored and gasified liquefied natural gas (LNG) for almost 30 years, plays an important role in Türkiye’s gas infrastructure and the Balkan’s energy supply security through its LNG exports to the region via land tankers since 2019.

The Marmara Ereglisi LNG Terminal, located in the Thrace region and operated by Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS), is the first facility out of two land-based LNG terminals in the country.

The facility, which opened in 1994, plays an important role in securing gas supply through LNG cargoes in a country that is highly dependent on energy imports while distributing gas supplies from many countries and sources without the need for pipelines.

Omer Turan, the chief engineer at Marmara Ereglisi LNG Terminal, told Anadolu that he considers the facility to be one of the most important energy supply points in the country.

‘We carry out safe unloading operations on LNG ships arriving from 20 different countries, such as Nigeria, Qatar and Algeria, and store LNG in our tanks,’ he said.

The terminal can store imported LNG in its three tanks, each with a storage capacity of 85,000 cubic meters. It can supply 37 million cubic meters (mcm) of natural gas to the national gas transmission system daily.

The Marmara Ereglisi LNG Terminal also delivers LNG to places within Türkiye that pipelines cannot reach on a daily basis using 75 land tankers. While the first LNG exports from the terminal via land tankers started in 2019 to the Balkans.

Operations encompassing docking and unloading an average ship, which takes around 24–30 hours, are carried out 24/7, even during peak consumption periods, Turan explained.

A total LNG capacity of 255,000 cubic meters is stored in tanks, regasified, and transmitted to the national gas system as needed, he added.

A pier capacity project in 2017 has ensured the terminal has the capability to accommodate all types of LNG ships.

Furthermore, an expansion project in 2018 has seen the doubling of its regasification capacity to the extent that the terminal can cover the natural gas needs of Istanbul.

‘We have reached a capacity to meet 30% of Türkiye’s gas needs in the summer season and 18% in the winter season,’ he said.

• Marmara Ereglisi LNG Terminal
• million cubic meters