First commissioning cargo at South Hook

At 15:00 hrs on Friday 20th March 2009, the Liquefied Natural Gas Carrier 'Tembek' arrived in the vicinity of the coastal waters of the Milford Haven to begin the berthing and commissioning process at the South Hook LNG Terminal in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. The 'Tembek' is the first ever LNG carrier to arrive in the Haven and is the first LNG carrier to berth at the South Hook LNG terminal.

The South Hook terminal forms one element of the wider Qatargas 2 value chain, the first in the world, owned by subsidiaries of Qatar Petroleum, Exxon Mobil and Total. This is a great milestone for the State of Qatar as the South Hook terminal is Qatar's first involvement in the downstream gas industry. Delighted at the accomplishment of so many people from all parts of the world Mr Faisal Al-Suwaidi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Qatargas Operating Company said: "The arrival of the first cargo into South Hook is a significant milestone in the development of the Qatargas 2 project, the world?s first full LNG value chain investment."

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said: "The arrival of this first shipment of gas from Qatar to Milford Haven's new import terminal at South Hook opens up yet another source of gas to UK homes and businesses, and will help boost our energy security, as North Sea supplies decline. I am pleased to welcome the continuing strong relations between the State of Qatar and the UK, which have helped to develop this project." At South Hook, it's through its people and processes that it is globally recognised for its excellence.

Mohammed Al-Naimi Director & General Manager of South Hook added that: "This is a very proud day for us all in South Hook, it is the accumulation of many years of hard work and dedication from a strong work force and support from UK Government at local, regional and national level, without whom the arrival of the Tembek and the final phase of the commissioning of the terminal here today would not have been possible." The imminent arrival of LNG will further enhance the strategic value of the Port of Milford Haven and positioning Milford Haven, positioning Milford Haven as an important new energy centre of the UK. As North Sea gas resources continue to decline, Milford Haven will become integral to securing the longevity of energy supplies across the country and will play a vital role in supporting the economies of the UK. Ted Sangster, Chief Executive, Milford Haven Port Authority adds: "We have worked consistently in recently years to become the most highly regarded port in the country, and our ability to handle LNG will further help us in this aim.

LNG's arrival also means the eyes of the world will be upon us, helping to attract the interest of other commercial operators which will present us with further opportunities to create additional revenue. As a trust port, this is vital to Milford Haven's role in supporting the economic development and voluntary activities of communities throughout Pembrokeshire." Councillor John Davies, Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council said: "It is difficult to overstate the importance to Pembrokeshire and the whole region of the South Hook Terminal. The advent of LNG is directly creating jobs in and around the port and we anticipate that other companies will take advantage of the positive benefits of being near a major gas supply. We have already enjoyed the positive economic impact of jobs created by the construction undertaken by the South Hook terminal. This is a big day for Pembrokeshire and for the whole country."