Newly US-listed Crown LNG is pushing forward with its $533m floating storage and regasification unit-based LNG import terminal project for the east coast of Scotland.
The company said today that it has selected civil and structural engineers IKM Engineering & Environmental Consultants (IKM) as its partner for Crown’s FSRU terminal in the Firth of Forth near Grangemouth.
IKM will be responsible for pre-front-end engineering and design (FEED) work, the FEED phase and be responsible for project management.
Its work will include handling planning consents, overall process design, facility layout, detailed engineering and procurement work.
Crown, which earlier this month completed its planned listing on the New York Stock Exchange through a business combination with US-listed Catcha Investment Corp, described the appointment of IKM as a “critical milestone” on its path to a final investment decision on the project.
The company said a site study for the location of the import facility and LNG vessel access has been completed and planning applications with the Scottish and UK governments will start immediately.
Previously, Crown said it had entered an agreement with GBTRON Lands for an offshore site, where it plans to locate a 5m tonnes per annum FSRU spread-moored in sheltered waters.
Crown said it will employ FSRU technology for the project without giving further details.
Last year, company officials told TradeWinds they were looking to convert a 170,000-cbm to 174,000-cbm modern LNG carrier to give flexibility on storage and a quicker delivery time than a newbuilding. They were targeting to put the unit in place by 2027.
Crown chief executive Swapan Kataria said IKM’s experience and existing presence in Grangemouth will help advance the company’s efforts toward a FID.
He described the project as “critical” for expanding the UK’s energy security by providing enhanced access to reliable natural gas supplies.
The acceleration of the Scottish LNG import project comes as the UK’s new Labour government unveils its plans for new state-owned company Great British Energy.
Crown is also pursuing a project to develop the first gravity-based structure LNG terminal for Kakinada in India.
