Dutch services company Dixstone, a unit of Perenco, said in a social media post on Thursday that the “FSU LNG Cap Lopez” arrived at UAE’s Port Khalid, Sharjah, on March 12.
“This 278-meter vessel will play a crucial role in providing LNG storage support to the nearshore LNG facilities in Gabon,” the firm said.
Dixstone said this is a “major” milestone for its operations and a step forward for LNG infrastructure in Gabon.
The firm did not provide further details.
According to a video posted by Dixstone, the LNG carrier in question is the 137,500-cbm LNG Bayelsa.
VesselsValue data shows that Perenco bought this vessel from Nigeria’s Bonny Gas Transport (BGT), the shipping unit of LNG producer Nigeria LNG, earlier this year.
The price tag has not been revealed.
In Gabon’s Cap Lopez, this FSU will work alongside a barge that is currently under conversion in the UAE.
Dixstone previously said the LNG project will have a storage capacity of 137,000 cbm in an ex-gas tanker converted to a floating storage and offloading unit.
In September 2024, Dixstone announced it had secured a construction, procurement, and integration contract for Perenco’s floating LNG export project at Cap Lopez, saying the project includes a near-shore liquefaction barge and LNG storage.
According to Dixstone, this project will produce 0.7 mtpa of LNG and 25,000 tons of LPG per year in the first phase.
Dixstone officially started conversion on the Bran6 barge in November last year.
The barge will be converted into a “fully functional FLNG plant for our client Perenco Oil & Gas Gabon,” the company said.
$1 billion
In 2023, Perenco announced a positive final investment decision on the liquefaction plant in Gabon worth more than $1 billion.
The project will see the transformation of Cap Lopez into both an oil and gas terminal.
Perenco’s unit in Gabon operates onshore and offshore licenses, as well as floating offshore storage and offloading (FPSO) units.
The company then said it expected the LNG production facility to be completed in about three years.
Last year, Perenco also purchased a stake in floating LNG player Golar LNG.
The company’s investment affiliate Naria has taken a 9.9 percent stake in Golar.
Golar and Perenco are partners in the FLNG project located offshore Cameroon’s Kribi.
