New Fortress Energy’s utilities and accommodation rig, Pioneer III, has arrived in Mexico to start serving the company’s first FLNG project off Altamira.
The jackup rig set sail under tow from the Kiewit Offshore Services shipyard in Ingleside, near Corpus Christi, Texas on Friday.
It was located offshore Mexico on Sunday, according to its AIS data. With this speed, it could arrive in Altamira on Monday.
Pioneer III consists of the facility main control room, three Siemens SGT 400 power generation turbines to power the full facility, beds for about 80 team members, a helideck, and also all systems required for the living quarters and utility needs of NFE’s Fast LNG 1 project, according to NFE.
NFE did not provide any further information regarding the launch of the project.
In early June, the US LNG firm received an export permit for its Altamira Fast LNG facility from Mexico’s Ministry of Energy (SENER).
Under the permit, NFE is authorized to export up to 7.8 million metric tons through April, 2028, providing ample capacity to support the operations of the 1.4 million tons per annum Fast LNG facility through the permitted period, it said.
NFE has previously received authorization from the US Department of Energy to export US-sourced LNG to Mexico and other FTA countries.
The firm said at the time that operations are slated to begin in the third quarter of 2023.
Moreover, NFE is currently working on up to five units using its “Fast LNG” liquefaction design that incorporates modular, midsize liquefaction technology with jackup rigs or similar offshore infrastructure.
Last year, NFE signed separate deals with CFE and Pemex aimed at installing floating LNG production units off Mexico.
Under the deal with CFE, the firm agreed to create a new FLNG hub off the coast of Altamira, Tamaulipas.
