Several bidders are preparing to submit offers to supply a small-scale floating storage and regasification unit or similar solutions to import LNG into the French Mediterranean island of Corsica.

TradeWinds understands that at least three groupings of companies are competing for the project.

One is believed to be a pairing of Japanese shipping outfit Mitsui OSK Lines with KN, a Lithuanian energy company and FSRU-based terminal developer.

Another is a French grouping believed to be headed up by an LNG terminal operator.

TradeWinds reported this year that France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition had asked for initial offers from outfits interested in building and operating a natural gas supply infrastructure. The project will serve power plants at Ajaccio, on the west of the French island, and in Lucciana, near Bastia, in the far north-east.

The aim is to switch the power plants over from fuel oil to gas in a bid to cut emissions.

The enquiry said candidates will need to demonstrate their project-management skills, particularly in building and operating regasification terminals or the natural gas transmission network, and carry out complex programmes in environmentally constrained sites.

The means of importing the regasified LNG have been left open, with observers suggesting that one or more FSRUs of around 40,000 cbm would work as a solution. Another alternative is to use gravity-based structures housing regasification units.

Offers were originally due to be submitted by 31 July, but the submission date has been extended to the end of October. Bids are to remain valid into 2021.

Those who have looked at the project, which is partly backed by European Union funds, remain wary of it as this is not the first time an attempt has been made to set up LNG imports for the French island.

They cite two earlier attempts in 2010 and 2016.

Cheap and abundant supplies of LNG are prompting developers to revive and create new schemes to switch power projects over to run on gas.

The neighbouring Italian island of Sardinia is also limbering up to import LNG.

Small-scale shipowner Avenir LNG is close to completing its 10,800-cbm Higas LNG import project in Sardinia. The facility is due to be operational this year and will be served by one of the company’s 7,500-cbm LNG newbuildings.