Senegal - Mauritania: Golar FLNG leaves Singapore for the GTA (Great Tortue Ahmeyim) project

The FLNG, destined for the Tortue liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, left the construction yard in tow on Sunday, according to its AIS data. Kosmos Energy said it should arrive at its project site off the coast of Mauritania and Senegal early next year. In February 2019, Golar LNG signed a 20-year lease and operating agreement with BP for the use of FLNG in this project.

The FLNG, named Gimi, is designed to produce around 2.5 million tonnes of LNG annually, using Black & Veatch's Prico liquefaction process. Originally scheduled to leave the Seatrium yard in Singapore in September, its departure has been delayed until October, following delays in the Tortue project.

Murray Auchincloss, BP's acting CEO, has expressed optimism that the first phase of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim FLNG project will be launched by the first quarter of 2024, although delays have been encountered, particularly in the subsea perimeter. BP recently selected Allseas, a Swiss company, to complete the laying of the subsea pipelines, replacing the original McDermott contractor.

Start-up of Tortue could be delayed until the second quarter of 2024. Kosmos, the project's partner, has indicated that first gas could be delivered during this period. Kosmos' quarterly report mentioned that the FLNG should leave the yard this quarter and arrive early next year.

The project partners are working with Golar to accelerate the commissioning of the vessel. Phase 1 of the project now depends on the arrival, connection and commissioning of the FPSO (floating production, storage and offloading unit).

The FPSO left Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry's yard in China in January and is scheduled to arrive at the project site in the first quarter of 2024. Once in service, it will process the natural gas, removing impurities, before exporting it to the FLNG located 10 km offshore. The FPSO, equipped with eight processing and production modules, will process around 500 million cubic feet of gas per day. The FLNG will liquefy the majority of the gas for export, also contributing to growing energy demand in Mauritania and Senegal.