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On 20 January 2014, Primagaz Benelux loaded the first trailer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at the Gate terminal in Rotterdam. Primagaz Benelux offers LNG for use as fuel for barges and trucks in addition to industries not connected to a local natural gas network.

Prima LNG, the logistics partner of Primagaz Benelux, signed an agreement with Gate terminal to load LNG by trailer. Both Primagaz Benelux and Prima LNG are wholly owned subsidiaries of SHV Energy, the leading world's LPG distributor.

Active as a small-scale LNG player in Turkey and China, Prima LNG has been tasked with accelerating LNG activities in Europe and managing the supply and distribution of LNG across the continent.

"The opening of truck loading at Gate terminal represents another milestone in the development of small-scale LNG and confirms the attractiveness of LNG as the fuel for the future," Gate terminal B.V. said in a statement.

PrimaLNG and Eneco recently signed an agreement for the supply of LNG. Commenting on Eneco's LNG interests, Gate terminal B.V. said: "As a capacity holder in Gate, Eneco considers LNG as a valuable addition to its existing gas portfolio in the short and long term. The new small scale LNG market has great potential due to the increasingly stringent emissions standards for industry, marine and road transport in Europe." Gate terminal was officially opened in September 2011. It is located on the Maasvlakte in Rotterdam and is the first LNG import terminal to be launched in the Netherlands. It was developed by N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie and Royal Vopak.

The facility was built to serve as an independent distribution point for European energy companies to address the rising demand for natural gas in northwestern Europe.

With a throughput capacity of 12 billion cubic metres per annum, the terminal consists of three storage tanks with a total storage capacity of 540,000 cubic metres, two jetties and a process area where the LNG is regasified. In the future, the terminal's throughput capacity can be increased to 16 billion cubic metres per annum with the construction of a fourth tank.

In addition to its import capacity, Gate terminal has also been operating as an export facility since 2013. Last year, customers were able to berth small vessels and reload LNG.

According to Gate terminal B.V., the commissioning of a truck loading station for the reloading of LNG means that the Gate terminal will have the ability to not only transport gas through the Dutch pipeline network, but also transport LNG as a clean alternative to traditional transportation fuels for shipping and road trucks.

"LNG provides significant economic and environmental benefits in comparison to traditional fuels. For that reason Primagaz Benelux is confident the small scale LNG market will grow substantially in the coming years and it is Primagaz’ ambition to become the leading LNG provider in the Benelux," Gate terminal B.V. added.