A floating LNG production unit that will be used by Eni in the Republic of Congo has been offloaded from a heavylift vessel in Angola.
Those working on the project said the 16,100-cbm barge-based Tango FLNG (built 2017) has been offloaded from the Seaway7’s 47,626-dwt Seaway Swan (built 2022) in Luanda and is now broadcasting its own AIS data.
The FLNG unit is due to be towed to its new permanent location 3 km off Pointe Noire in Congo where it will be anchored in 40 metres of water.
Once on site, the floater is due to be joined by the 138,000-cbm floating storage unit Excalibur (built 2002). Kpler data shows the FSU has already arrived off Pointe Noire.
A first commissioning cargo is expected to be supplied to the FSU, sources close to the project said, possibly using one of the small-scale LNG carriers under Eni’s control.
The barge-based FLNG unit, which has a liquefaction capacity of approximately 1bn cbm per annum, is likely to undergo a reverse commissioning process in which it will use feedgas to produce LNG and cool down its tanks and systems.
Both units left Drydocks World in Dubai following high-profile “sailaway” ceremonies in October.
The floater and the FSU have been upgraded to remain on site for 10 years or more.
Eni has said it plans to start LNG production in December 2023.
Exmar sold Tango FLNG to Eni and detailed a price range of between $572m and $694m for the sale but said the final figure is dependent on the actual performance of the unit during its first six months on site.
Excalibur FSU is on a long-term charter to Eni.
Exmar will be responsible for all terminal operations on the Congo LNG Project.
Eni’s Congo LNG project will use Marine XII gas resources and existing production facilities and is being developed in two phases.
The first nearshore development will use Tango FLNG and Excalibur, which together will be able to store more than 180,000 cbm of LNG and 45,000 cbm of LPG.
The Italian energy company then plans to add an offshore element and has also ordered a 2.4-million tonne per annum FLNG unit from China’s Wison (Nantong) Heavy Industries, which also built Tango FLNG, to upscale its LNG production.
