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A new study that will look into the potential of developing an offshore LNG bunkering infrastructure in Malta is due to commence next month after the country's Energy and Water Agency managed to secure a EUR 600,000 grant to fund the project.

The grant agreement was signed by the European Commission (EC), Malta's Ministry for Energy and Water Management and Transport Malta to co-finance the technical study which was submitted as a proposal to the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme last December.

The aim of the study is to identify the optimal offshore and outside-port-infrastructure solutions for the development of LNG bunkering in Malta.

A number of factors are to be examined as part of the project, including future market demand, attractiveness, economic and environmental issues, geography, safety, risk, and any possible synergies with the planned Malta-Italy gas pipeline.

The LNG bunker study is to also perform a socio-economic cost-benefit analysis, a preliminary risk assessment for optimal infrastructure solutions, and identify any regulatory or legislative issues related to the implementation and operation of such a supply set-up.

Tractebel Engineering S.p.A. has been selected to perform the study, which is due to start next month and will be overseen by the Energy and Water Agency and Transport Malta.