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Blast Disrupts LNG Operations at Egypt's Damietta Import Hub, Kpler Says

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An explosion damaged two LNG vessels at Egypt's Damietta terminal, disrupting operations at a key import hub, Kpler said in a Thursday note.

Kpler said both vessels sustained damage, although authorities and operators have not disclosed the extent of the impact on the terminal, repair timelines, or when normal operations will resume.

Kpler data showed both vessels left the terminal hours after the explosion and are now idling offshore in the Mediterranean Sea. Authorities have not disclosed the cause of the blast or reported any injuries.

One of the damaged vessels had been scheduled to begin operating as a floating storage unit on Aug. 1 under a short-term agreement with state-owned Egyptian Natural Gas Holding to support Egypt's LNG import capacity ahead of peak summer demand, Kpler said.

US-based Energos Infrastructure operates the second vessel as a floating storage and regasification unit at Damietta, supplying regasified LNG to Egypt's domestic gas network. Damage could limit the terminal's LNG import capacity, Kpler said.

Kpler data also showed another LNG carrier loaded with 162,500 cubic meters of LNG sailed away from Damietta instead of unloading its cargo after the incident.

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