London  - The first giant tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar arrived in Britain Friday amid noisy protests from campaigners who oppose the project on environmental and safety grounds.

The consignment, on board the 316,000-ton Tembek, is the first to be delivered to the deep sea port of Milford Haven, on the coast of Wales in south-west Britain, under a long-term contract signed with Qatar.

According to government planning, the LNG supplies from Qatar will cover 25 per cent of Britain's gas requirements once the two new natural gas plants in the port are fully operational.

But environmentalists and local people have opposed the project, which cost 13 billion pounds (18.8 billion dollars), saying that a proper risk assessment of LNG cargo spills had not been carried out.

The South Hook Terminal, the largest LNG plant in Europe, is a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum, ExxonMobil and Total.

A second terminal, Dragon LNG, a partnership between Malaysia's state oil firm Petronas, BG and the Netherland's 4Gas, is expected to become operational later in the year.

British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Friday welcomed the arrival of the first shipment which would provide Britain with "yet another source of gas" as supplies from the North Sea declined.

Campaigners said they would sound World War II air raid sirens to alert the public to the dangers of the shipment and the passage of tankers through a narrow channel.

Fisal Al-Suwaidi, chairman and chief executive of Qatargas Operating Company, described the arrival of the Tembek as a "significant milestone" in the development of the project. (dpa)