Industrial action at France's 12.4mn t/yr Dunkirk LNG import terminal has been extended by a further four days, having previously been due to end tomorrow, according to terminal operator Fluxys.
The strike at the facility will last until 14 March at 06:00 CET (05:00 GMT), with the vessel jetty unavailable, regasification at a technical minimum and LNG truck loadings halted. Industrial action began on 7 March. This latest extension brings Dunkirk LNG's shutdown in line with France's Elengy-operated three other terminals — the 8mn t/yr Montoir, 6.6mn t/yr Fos Cavaou and 2.2mn t/yr Fos Tonkin import facilities — which are also expected to restart on 14 March.
Widespread strikes in France against pension reforms have stopped activity at France's LNG terminals. There have been several diversions away from the Elengy-operated terminals in recent days, while the 172,600m³ Fedor Litke and 161,900m³ Maran Gas Alexandria were still holding offshore Dunkirk on Thursday evening. France has only taken one LNG cargo so far this month, Vortexa data show.
France turns to pipeline imports, storage withdrawals
The country has relied on pipeline imports from neighbouring Belgium and Spain as well as increased storage withdrawals to make up for the shortfall in supply.
France imported pipeline supply via Belgium on 7-8 March for the first time since 10 July, while flows at the Pirineos interconnection point with Spain also reversed on Wednesday and pointed towards France for the first time since 11 February. And exports at the Obergailbach and Oltingue interconnection points with Germany and Switzerland fell sharply on 6-8 March (see supply graph).
High-calorie withdrawals have also risen since the beginning of the industrial action, to their highest since the start of February (see storage graph).
| Diverted LNG carriers | ||
| Vessel | French terminal | New destination |
| LNG Sokoto | Fos Cavaou | Isle of Grain, UK |
| Minerva Amorgos | Fos Cavaou | TBC |
| Global Energy | Fos Tonkin | Barcelona, Spain |
| Maran Gas Olympias | Montoir | Gate, Netherlands |
| Fedor Litke | Montoir | TBC |
| — Vortexa | ||
