Middle East terminal developer Bahrain LNG is to charter out its dedicated LNG floating storage unit for short-term trading.
In a statement, Bahrain LNG said the 173,400-cbm Bahrain Spirit (built 2018) is sending out the last of its commissioning cargo so that it can “redeploy on short-term trade as intended”.
Bahrain LNG said the mechanical construction and commissioning of the terminal has been completed.
It added: “Most of the construction and commissioning contractors were able to be demobilised accordingly.”
Last week, TradeWinds reported that the start-up of the new terminal in Bahrain is facing fresh headwinds as the authorities continue gas-sales talks with end buyers.
Commercial operations
“The achievement of construction completion for the Bahrain LNG receiving and regasification terminal is a critical milestone for this project, which is of strategic importance to the energy sector of the Kingdom of Bahrain,” Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahrain's minister for oil, said.
“We look forward to the upcoming commencement of commercial operations in order to secure regasification services to the Kingdom of Bahrain.”
Bahrain LNG uses an FSU as the vessel receiving imported LNG cargoes. LNG is transferred to an offshore receiving jetty, protected by a breakwater and regasified on an adjacent platform.
Subsea pipelines take the gas onshore to a receiving facility and a nitrogen production plant.
The project, which is located to the north-east of Khalifa Bin Salman Port in the Hidd Industrial Area, was original scheduled to start up in 2018.
The Bahrain Spirit, which has been on charter to the project, arrived on site in July with a full cargo of LNG. Teekay later said the terminal would begin operations before the end of 2019.
Teekay LNG controls a 30% stake in Bahrain LNG, with local developer Oil and Gas Holding Co (Nogaholding) owning 30%, Gulf Investment 24% and Samsung C&T 16%.
