Commissioned in 2005, National Grid's Grain LNG terminal can receive and process up to 3.3 million tonnes of LNG (4.4 billion cubic meters of gas) per annum--or 13 million cubic meters (140GWh/d) of gas per day.

A BP/Sonatrach venture has a 3.3-mtpa, 20-year contract with the facility to berth and unload LNG ships and store the cargo before regassification. Also, Centrica, Gaz de France, and Sonatrach have contracted for 6.5 mtpa of expansion capacity that is scheduled to be available in late 2008. These contracts allow the primary capacity holders to sell berthing slots and space to secondary users.

Expansion projects

Phase II

CB&I is constructing three new, 190,000-cubic-meter LNG storage tanks and associated works at Grain LNG under a design-build contract. When this first expansion concludes, total storage capacity will increase to 770,000 cubic meters. Moreover, the GBP355-million expansion--slated to conclude in late 2008--will boost LNG throughput at the terminal by 6.5 million tonnes per annum to 9.8 million tonnes per annum.

National Grid launched the Phase 2 expansion after Centrica, Gaz de France, and Sonatrach in March 2005 signed long-term contracts for the additional capacity.

Phase III

National Grid is expanding the terminal's capacity yet again. The Phase III expansion, which began in Summer 2007 and is expected to conclude in Winter 2010/2011, will increase the facility's total capacity to 14.8 million tons of LNG. The 5-million-ton, GBP310-million capacity expansion entails delivering a second jetty and adding another 190,000-cubic-meter storage tank and associated works. CB&I is also performing this work under a lump-sum contract.

A pipeline that will be constructed between two sites will transport warm water from the power station to the vaporizers at the National Grid importation terminal. The pipeline will be online in early 2010.

Grain LNG is a suitable site for the expansions because National Grid owns a significant area of land in the vicinity and the River Medway's depth allows the largest LNG ships to pass through and berth.