Repsol today received the first shipment of LNG from Qatargas, under a multiyear agreement which secures supply for the Canaport LNG terminal. The arrival of the Q-Max LNG tanker, the biggest in the world, highlights Canaport LNG Facility’s design and technological excellence as the only terminal in the Northeast of North America able to receive such vessels.

The Q-Max tanker’s cargo of nearly 6 trillion Btus of LNG is enough to heat 70,000 homes in North America for one year, equivalent to heating the 26 million homes in the UK for one day.

“Deliveries under this agreement allow Repsol to increase reliability of gas supplies to the region, strengthening Repsol’s position as a competitive supplier to the Northeast Unites States and Canada,” said Phil Ribbeck, President of Repsol Energy Canada Ltd.

The arrival of the Q-Max marks the berthing of Canaport LNG’s 37th ship, including three Q-Flexes, received at the Terminal since its commissioning in June, 2009. The Terminal has received LNG from Trinidad and Tobago, Egypt, Norway, Peru and Qatar. With this diverse supply of LNG and the Canaport LNG Facility’s capabilities, Repsol is able to provide a reliable and flexible supply of natural gas to the market.

Repsol is expanding in LNG to reinforce its competitive positioning, as the business is seen as a key driver of medium and long-term growth. Repsol is already one of the world’s largest LNG operators.

Canaport LNG, opened by Antonio Brufau in September of 2009, is the first land-based LNG receiving and regasification facility to be built in over 30 years on North America’s Atlantic coast and the first in Canada. Repsol has delivered over 100 bcf of natural gas to Northeast US since Canaport LNG opened its facility.

The 1 Bcf per day facility supplies natural gas to homes, businesses and industry in Canada and the Northeast US. The Canaport LNG Facility, along with Repsol’s other natural gas assets, are capable of meeting about 20 percent of the natural gas demand in New York and New England.

As a result, Repsol has become a major player in the Eastern Canada and Northeast US natural gas markets. Currently, natural gas can supply 75% of the electric generation market in Northeast USA and continues to increase its share in the home heating market.