- silence

- At that stage of the news, let’s celebrate any anniversary, it is economical,

- the methane terminal in Fos sur Mer is 20 years in life. Very dense activities, that will last for 20 more years.

- Reporting by Valérie Chénine and by Philippe Bar.

- 20 years in life, and here we go again for 20 more years.

- The methane terminal of Fos could have stopped,

- it is one of the oldest ones still in use in the world. Those installations were built to last as much as gas contracts, 2 decades:

- as a fact, on August 7th, 1972, the Jules Verne methane tanker carried out the first loading of liquid natural gas from Algeria.

- Since then, the terminal gave out a quantity of gas that is equal to 60 billion cubic meters. To extend its life duration up to 2013,

- GDF will begin a total renovation of its installation and the replacement of the tanks will not be needed.

- Methane tankers arrive in Fos loaded with liquid natural gas that is 160 degrees Celsius, that will then be gasified again to be used by the industry and households.

- There is another terminal of that type in France,

- in Montoire in Brittany. 4 contracts have been signed with Algeria since the end of 1991. Algerian gas represents 30% of national needs.