LNG

New Fortress Energy said that after successfully producing LNG at its first floating LNG production unit offshore Altamira in the Gulf of Mexico the firm has now closed a $700 million loan for its second FLNG unit.

“Now operational, FLNG 1 expects to deliver its first cargo in August and enter full production thereafter,” said NFE.

The new loan will fully fund the construction of the FLNG II units,” added NFE.

This project will be developed in partnership with the Mexican state agency, the Federal Electricity Commission.

It will “utilize the extensive in-place terminal infrastructure onshore” in Altamira.

The new liquefaction unit will incorporate the same proprietary modular technology as the first Mexican project, from Atlanta-based Chart Industries.

This second Mexican project is scheduled to complete the construction phase in the first half of 2026.

“Our FLNG complex is advancing at a rapid pace as we have now produced LNG at our first unit, and fully financed our second,” said Wes Edens, Chairman and Chief Executive of NFE.

Project values

“These are large infrastructure projects that add considerable financial and operational value to our company and we are thrilled with the progress to date,” stated Edens.

NFE’s “Fast LNG” project comprises modular, midsize liquefaction technology with jack-up rigs to enable lower costs

The company’s other main assets comprise two LNG import terminals in Brazil, one at Santa Catarina in the south and a second at Barcarena in the state of Pará in the far northeast of Brazil.

New Fortress Energy, the US developer of floating LNG production and import terminal and power projects, reported higher first-quarter revenues as “Fast LNG” projects advance along with regasification and power ventures in Brazil and Ireland.

The New York-based firm’s revenues jumped to $579.1M from $505.1M in the same three months of 2022 and were also up from the $546.4M logged in the previous quarter.

However, NFE’s net income dropped to $151.6M from $241.2M in the same three months of 2022.

The company explained that the construction of its first “Fast LNG” unit was 90 percent complete and deployment to Altamira on the Gulf Coast of Mexico was expected in the months ahead. 

NFE’s “Fast LNG” pairs modular, midsize liquefaction technology with jack-up rigs or similar floating infrastructure to enable lower-cost and faster deployment schedules.

“We expect to complete commissioning of our first ‘Fast LNG’ unit in the shipyard and on-location at the Altamira site and continue to anticipate first gas in July 2023,” said NFE.

The company noted that its FLNG 2 and FLNG 3 were already under construction and all long-lead items have been procured.

Brazil projects

NFE has also completed the Barcarena import terminal in Brazil and expects first gas deliveries to industrial customer Norsk Hydro in late 2023.

“We remain on schedule and also in 2023 expect to commence operations at our Santa Catarina terminal in Brazil,” NFE added.

NFE explained that construction of the 630 megawatts power plant at Barcarena is underway pursuant to a fixed-price, date-certain engineering, procurement and construction contract with Mitsubishi and Toyo Setal of Japan.

Operations at the plant are expected to commence in July 2025 pursuant to 25-year power purchase agreement with Brazilian distribution companies.

NFE is also selling a power plant in Mexico and was finalizing the sale of the 135-MW La Paz facility to Mexico’s Comisión Federal de Electricidad for around $180M. The transaction was expected to close in the third quarter.

The US company has also been awarded a 353 MW of capacity contract with a 10-year duration from the Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO), the operator of the Republic of Ireland's electric grid.

NFE is also expecting to finalize a permitting and construction contract for a 600 MW combined-cycle, gas-fired power plant beginning operations in 2026 and to be supplied by a proposed Shannon LNG terminal project in Ballylongford in County Kerry, southwest Ireland.

New Fortress Energy Inc., the US developer of floating LNG production and import terminal projects, reported soaring annual revenues and net profits as its array of projects advanced.