Singapore’s Keppel Shipyard has been awarded a contract to convert the LNG carrier BW Gallina to a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) that will be deployed to the Port of Acajutla, El Salvador
The contract was inked with FSRU Development Pte, a joint venture company between BW Gas Limited and Invenergy Investment Co.
Invenergy is a major investor in Energia del Pacifico (EDP), developer of El Salvador’s first LNG-to-power project at Port of Acajutla.
In December 2019, EDP announced the completion of project financing for the LNG-to-power project which will comprise a 378-MW natural gas-fired power plant, FSRU, and an approximately 44-km electric transmission line that will connect to the Central American Electrical Interconnection System, strengthening the country’s electric grid. The project is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2021.
Shell will supply LNG for the project under a long-term agreement with EDP. Other key contractors for the project are SAAM Towage, which will provide tug support services using two azimuth stern drive escort tugs. Based on Robert Allan Ltd designs, the two newbuild tugs are being built by Turkey’s Uzmar Shipyard.
Boskalis is engineering and building a subsea pipeline that will transport the natural gas from the FSRU to the power plant on shore.
BW Offshore and BW LNG are partnering on the conversion of the LNG carrier to an FSRU.
Keppel O&M chief executive Chris Ong said, “Keppel O&M’s partnership with the BW Group has grown from strength to strength, having worked together on more than 10 projects, including FPSO and FSRU conversions. This demonstrates our close collaboration and BW Group’s confidence and trust in our capabilities.”
This is the fifth FSRU conversion secured by Keppel O&M, which previously delivered Hilli Episeyo, the world’s first floating LNG vessel and is currently converting Gimi for its second FLNG conversion and Singapore’s first LNG bunkering vessel.
Get the latest information and viewpoints on maritime issues during Riviera Maritime Media’s series of webinar weeks on key technical subjects in shipping
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.