France's GDF Suez said its Fos-Cavaou liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in southern France would start operating in June 2009, two years after the initially scheduled start date.
"The LNG terminal is delayed until June 2009 because of the accident that took place in February 2008 during testing," a GDF Suez spokeswoman told Reuters on Tuesday.
The company said in February a piping accident had delayed the start of the terminal until the first half of 2009.
"A pipe was damaged and we have to replace it with very specific materials, which have very specific measurements," the spokeswoman added.
The terminal, which will have a regasification capacity of 8.25 billion cubic metres, was first due to start in 2007. The company said the Sofregaz Saipem consortium, which is building the terminal, would have to shoulder the increase in costs due to the delays.
GDF Suez owns 69.7 percent of the terminal while Total owns the remaining 30.3 percent.
"The LNG terminal is delayed until June 2009 because of the accident that took place in February 2008 during testing," a GDF Suez spokeswoman told Reuters on Tuesday.
The company said in February a piping accident had delayed the start of the terminal until the first half of 2009.
"A pipe was damaged and we have to replace it with very specific materials, which have very specific measurements," the spokeswoman added.
The terminal, which will have a regasification capacity of 8.25 billion cubic metres, was first due to start in 2007. The company said the Sofregaz Saipem consortium, which is building the terminal, would have to shoulder the increase in costs due to the delays.
GDF Suez owns 69.7 percent of the terminal while Total owns the remaining 30.3 percent.