TotalEnergies announced the demobilization of its floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) of liquefied natural gas located in the port of Le Havre. The decision comes after finding that the infrastructure is no longer essential to the country’s energy supply, as validated by the Rouen Administrative Court.
During the European energy crisis of 2022, marked by the drastic reduction of Russian gas, the floating terminal provided by TotalEnergies played a strategic role. This temporary facility, operated without public subsidies, made it possible to reinforce the energy security and respond to demand during winter consumption peaks or geopolitical tensions.
Floating LNG terminal in emergency context
With the reestablishment of equilibrium in the European gas market European gas market and the low utilization of the terminal, TotalEnergies has opted to withdraw it. The company stressed that its use has been practically nil in recent months, showing that the emergency situation has been overcome.
With a global portfolio of 40 million tons per year and access to more than 20 Mt/year of regasification capacity in Europe, TotalEnergies is positioned as the world’s third largest LNG player. Its strategy aims to double the share of natural gas in its energy mix by 2030, promoting a cleaner and more sustainable transition.
The withdrawal of the FSRU in Le Havre is a sign of normalization in European energy supply. It also raises new questions about the future of temporary infrastructure in emergency contexts and the role that large energy companies will play in designing backup grids that are less dependent on fossil fuels.
Source and photo: TotalEnergies