LNG import terminals continue to be developed over a wide size range: from less than 1 million

tonnes per annum (tpa) to over 10 million tpa of gas sendout. Typical end uses for the imported gas
include:
• Power generation for large metropolitan areas
• Industrial/domestic fuel for customers in metropolitan areas
• Power generation for regional use
• Industrial/domestic fuel via pipeline for regional use
• Feedstock for manufacture of other chemicals
Obviously, certain combinations of these are also possible.
The end use will, to a large extent, dictate the design and operational philosophy for the terminal. For
example, a power plant supplying all or most of the power needs for an entire region requires
extremely high reliability. If it depends on a single LNG terminal as the sole source of fuel, it is also
important that the terminal have the highest reliability. In such an instance it will be prudent to provide
supplemental LNG storage sufficient for several weeks, as a safeguard against unexpected interruption
of import shipments. This would result in a “large” terminal as measured by storage capacity, though
the terminal capacity may be moderate in terms of sendout. Further, high reliability may require that
spare equipment be installed for key services such as LNG vaporization. Thus, while sendout capacity
is a general indication of terminal size, other factors will often dictate the extent of facilities and
equipment to be provided.