Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC) and Uniper SE, a leading international energy company with operations in more than 40 countries, have signed a MoU for import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the Port of Hamriyah in Sharjah, UAE.  

First gas deliveries should arrive into Sharjah in the spring of 2018. Gas will flow to the Sajaa gas field complex and then into the existing pipeline network throughout the Northern Emirates, said a statement from SNOC.

The natural gas will be marketed to existing gas consumers in the region and new business seeking a reliable long term supply of energy, it stated.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, the deputy chairman of Sharjah Petroleum Council and president of SNOC said: "We highly value this project which will add to the supply of gas in Sharjah and Northern Emirates to meet the growing demand for energy. The combination of SNOC and Uniper efforts with all their capabilities and experience in natural gas activities will achieve the planned targets."

Hatem Al Mosa, the chief executive of SNOC and secretary general of Sharjah Petroleum Council, said there was an urgent need for a reliable supply of natural gas into the Northern Emirates that can be easily distributed to support large and small consumers, from the big power generators to small businesses.

"The Sajaa complex has traditionally been the centre of the gas supply business in the Northern Emirates and it is well placed to continue supporting the region," he stated.

Klaus Schäfer, CEO of Uniper SE, said it was delighted to support Sharjah in its quest for uninterruptable supplies of natural gas.

Uniper, which has its headquarters in Düsseldorf, Germany, owns and manages a portfolio of power plants located across Europe and Russia, as well as focuses on commodity trading business.

"We have over 50 years of experience, through legacy companies, in delivering sustainable competitively priced energy to customers," he stated.

John Roper, the managing director & head of Middle East for Uniper Global Commodities S.E, said: “We are proud to support Sharjah and the UAE in securing a robust long term energy solution through the import of LNG. Uniper is well placed to assist SNOC in developing the Port of Hamriyah to receive LNG cargoes and to obtain supplies of energy from global LNG markets."

"This serves as an example of our long term commitment to the region’s energy needs," he added.-TradeArabia News Service