The Polish LNG terminal in Świnoujście is experiencing an unprecedented wave of deliveries. Three fully loaded tankers are scheduled to unload within just five days, marking the most intense period of operations in the facility’s recent history. All cargoes come from the United States.
The miniseries of express deliveries began on June 5 with the arrival of the Clean Mistral. Two days later, the Święta Barbara completed her unloading. Now the Venture Iberia is waiting at the entrance to the terminal. This means a ship docking every two days.
„This is practically the fastest pace at which our LNG terminal can receive shipments” – said Dariusz Malinowski, journalist covering energy sector. The schedule appears to be a result of careful planning, possibly combined with favorable Atlantic crossing conditions that allowed the tankers to arrive ahead of time. For operators, the priority was to discharge quickly and return the vessels to commercial service.
Geopolitical context behind the rush
The intensification of American LNG deliveries comes amid a major geopolitical shift. Following the joint military action by Israel and the United States against Iran, the Strait of Hormuz was closed. As a result, no Qatari gas has reached Poland for months. Qatar had been a traditional supplier of LNG to the terminal.
All three current shipments originate from the United States. Venture Iberia will be the 446th delivery in the terminal’s history and the 36th this year. The absence of Qatari supplies has increased reliance on American gas, which now accounts for a growing share of Poland’s imports.
Terminal capacity and strategic importance
The Świnoujście LNG terminal, opened over a decade ago, can receive more than 80 cargoes annually. Its regasification capacity reaches approximately 8.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year. This makes it a cornerstone of Poland’s energy security, especially after the country diversified away from Russian pipeline gas.
After the Venture Iberia unloads, the terminal is expected to get some breathing room. The next tanker is scheduled to arrive on June 15. Despite the current congestion, the facility is operating at high efficiency, handling the surge without major delays.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Gaz-System
