New Fortress Energy expects to start production from its delayed Fast LNG unit off Altamira in Mexico in the next 10 days.
In an update, the US-listed company said it has made “tremendous progress” towards the start of liquefaction operations.
“As of today, the work necessary to begin operations is complete and the company has also completed the full remainder of pre-commissioning activities,” it said.
New Fortress expects to be able to deliver its first cargo in July.
In a May results call, it said it planned to produce its first cargo in June. This would have been one year after it was originally planned.
Fast LNG, which the company often confusingly dubs “FLNG” — a term normally used for floating LNG production units — comprises three converted semi-submersible drilling rigs that are linked together.
New Fortress is using the 160,000-cbm NFE Penguin (built 2014) as a floating storage unit for the production facility.
On 26 April, a pipe fracture occurred inside the liquefaction unit’s cold box, which is housed on NFE Pioneer II, causing an eruption of perlite insulation material that coated the rig.
But in May, New Fortress said the damage was isolated to one pipe and manifold within the box and was due to be repaired in days.
Chief financial officer Chris Guinta, who has put the value of the Fast LNG unit at more than $3bn, said it can produce about 90 cargoes over the next four years, giving surety of supply for the company’s terminals.
