The first delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been made to a new facility on Teesside, port officials have confirmed.
US-based Excelerate Energy set up the UK's second LNG import terminal at Teesport, after being granted planning permission last year.
LNG is gas which is transported in liquid form so it can be carried by tanker rather than by pipeline.
The facility is capable of handling up to 11m cubic metres of gas a day.
The Teesside project is unique in Europe because the LNG is warmed up and turned into gas while still onboard Excelerate's specially-designed tankers, before the gas is pumped directly into Britain's gas network.
Highest bidder
The company says this avoids the need to build a terminal on land.
A spokeswoman for PD Ports said the tanker Excelsior arrived on Teesside from Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands on Monday, after collecting its cargo from another vessel.
Unlike pipeline gas, LNG tankers are free to choose their destinations and can be sent to the highest bidder.
It is predicted that demand for LNG will increase in the UK as traditional North Sea supplies dwindle.
Excelerate Energy operates a small fleet of vessels that vaporise natural gas onboard and deliver LNG to its facilities around the world.
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