LNG

According to the latest figures from DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform, nine LNG fuelled vessels were added to the worldwide orderbook in July, bringing the total to 162 for the year to date. 

So far this year, LNG fuelled vessels order growth was driven by containerships and car carriers, making up 51% and 25% of the orders, respectively.

Commenting on the figures, Martin Wold, Principal Consultant in DNV’s Maritime Advisory business, said: “Although the growth in orders has slowed down somewhat in line with the general newbuild ordering activity, there are several large orders in the pipeline.

“It is also encouraging to see some innovative pilot projects hitting the order books, including cruise ships run on liquid hydrogen powered fuel cells.

These types of projects are key to driving technology maturity and establishing safety frameworks, and to accelerating the de-carbonisation of shipping,” he said.

AFI provides the shipping industry with an open platform for evaluating the uptake of alternative fuels and technologies, DNV explained. 

Elsewhere, V.Group will be providing full technical management for three LNG dual-fuel newbuilding VLCCs currently under construction at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) for tanker owner, International Seaways.

They will be joining V.Group’s fleet management in the first quarter of next year and will operate under a long term charter to Shell once delivered.

Nigeria’s Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has awarded a licence for a project to establish the West African nation’s first floating liquefied natural gas production plant and run by a Nigerian oil and gas company rather than an international energy major.

Royal Dutch Shell said all conditions had been met for its final investment decision (FID) on a new LNG processing unit at Nigeria LNG, a project known as the Train 7 expansion.

Italian energy company Eni said it signed a new long-term contract for the purchase of 1.5 million tonnes per annum of LNG from the Nigeria LNG plant at Bonny Island on the Niger Delta.

Nigeria LNG has taken the final investment decision to construct the long-awaited Train 7 project and associated facilities to increase output to over 30 million tonnes per annum and with a scheduled start-up in 2024.

Nov 11 (LNGJ) - Italian energy engineering company Saipem and South Korea’s Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co. have signed a strategic agreement for cooperation on targeted worldwide opportunities with specific emphasis on the LNG sector.

   Daewoo in joint venture with Saipem have already been nominated as preferred bidders for the engineering, procurement and contract for the Nigeria LNG Train 7. Saipem and Daweoo said the strategic alliance will enhance and capitalize on synergies and establish a key player capable of delivering in the global LNG construction sector.

   “This strategic agreement with Daewoo will leverage our distinctive competencies in high-end projects, particularly in LNG, and our proven operational experience to support the corporate goals of our customers around the world,” said Maurizio Coratella, Chief Operating Officer of the Saipem Onshore Engineering Division.

Nigeria LNG has finally signed a letter of intent for the engineering, procurement and construction contract with a consortium of companies from Italy, Japan and South Korea to proceed with the construction of a seventh liquefaction Train.

Another large natural gas discovery in the Niger Delta has focused attention on the slow progress of the expansion project for the Nigerian liquefaction and export plant at Bonny Island, where a seventh Train has been planned for several years.

The countdown to the start of the expansion project for Nigeria’s liquefied natural gas plant, with the building of a seventh Train, has started after the signing of the first accord on LNG after the February re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari that ended months of indecision.

French energy major Total said it expected to approve plans for increased oil and gas activities in Nigeria in the coming months and is also hoping to help increase Nigeria’s liquefied natural gas production with the long-awaited Train 7 expansion.