LNG News Editor:
The Kingdom of Jordan has started a tender process for the upgrading of the liquefied natural gas import terminal facilities at the Port of Aqaba amid economic expansion plans for the region including in tourism and trade.
The existing Aqaba LNG facility, known as the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Terminal, is connected to the Araba Gas Pipeline and consists of a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) with 170,000 cubic metres of capacity.
FSU plans
The aim of the project is to replace the existing FSRU with a floating storage unit (FSU) and some onshore regasification and with modifications to the existing facilities.
It is hoped that the upgrade will reduce costs, increase competitiveness and efficiency and have the potential for gas exports through a tie-in point and a gas pipeline.
The start of the Jordanian tender process is the soliciting of an Expression of Interest (EOI) Letter from any parties and ship-owners who wish to participate in the prequalification stage.
The Aqaba Development Corp. (ADC) is overseeing the expansion and the tender documents state that it is “looking to construct an Onshore Regasification Unit (ORU) and lease a Floating Storage Unit (FSU), with or without the construction of an Onshore LNG tank” for storage.
“The conclusion of the current project studies will determine the final position on the most feasible and economic options for meeting the current and future demands of natural gas,” said the statement in an advertisement of the launch of the tender process.
The project's aim is to provide additional security of supply to the natural gas network as a secondary source through the implementation of an ORU, FSU and LNG-tanks solution.
The tender announcement was to solicit expressions of interest (EOI) for providing (through charter) the FSU vessel and the other services.
The deadline for receiving the pre-qualification documents in the manner described is January 31st, 2022.
