Gasum finalises Skangass acquisition

Gasum has announced that it has finalised the acquisition of Skangass AS from the Lyse Group.

The 51% acquisition forms part of Gasum’s strategy to improve the availability of competitive LNG in Finland. The aim of the joint venture is to take a strong
position in the growing Nordic LNG market.

Nordic LNG

The Nordic countries are becoming a significant market for LNG. The new emission regulations for sulphur dioxide, which come into effect in 2015, will increase the need for cleaner fuels in marine traffic. Improving the availability of LNG will serve not only marine traffic but also the increasing needs of industrial clients outside the natural gas grids and future needs of heavy duty traffic.

Johanna Lamminen, Gasum’s Excecutive Vice President, said: “The acquisition enables the creation of sufficient market coverage and distribution infrastructure in the Nordic countries, giving Gasum the possibility to offer a much more competitive product for end users in the maritime,
industry and heavy transport sectors.”

Skangass will add to the delivery reliability of Gasum’s LNG offering through new terminals and tankers. It will also enable fast development of gas infrastructure in the Nordic countries. Large, combined import quantities will result in more cost-efficient LNG-sourcing and thus enhance the opening of new LNG terminals. The acquisition will join the Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish markets geographically, making the delivery of a competitive product possible in the entire area. The acquisition will also improve the development of purchasing and delivery services, efficiency in the logistics chain and freighting, and raise overall storage capacity.

LNG experience

Both Gasum and Skangass are experienced operators in LNG. Gasum has been developing its LNG operations since 1996 and the company has long-term experience in the acquisition of natural gas. Skangass began its LNG
operations in 2011. The company has developed LNG distribution markets in Norway and Sweden. Skangass has its own processing plant and supply chains for both maritime and industrial clients.

Through the acquisition Gasum’s LNG business unit, including the Porvoo production plant and the planned Turku /Pori terminal will become a part of the new joint enterprise.

The Skangass production plant in Risavika will remain in Lyse’s ownership, but a long-term delivery contract regarding the use of the unit has been made with the new joint enterprise, Skangass AS. Skangass’s Öra terminal in Norway, the Lysekil terminal still in construction and the planned Gävle terminal, both in Sweden, will be transferred to the new company. Skangass has charter parties with two tankers. After the acquisition the companies will have a total of 20 LNG tank trucks.

Tor Morten Osmundsen will continue as the CEO of the new Skangass, with Johanna Lamminen, Gasum’s Excecutive Vice President as the chairman of the board.

Adapted from press release by Callum O'Reilly

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/small-scale-lng/06052014/gasum_acquires_skangass_529/