The 137,000-cbm converted FSRU Etyfa Prometheas, which will serve the first Cyprus LNG import terminal in Vasilikos, has completed its gas trials in China, according to Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry in Shanghai.
CHI Shanghai, the unit of Cosco Shipping, announced the departure of the FSRU on October 16 to test the performance of the LNG cargo containment system, cargo handling equipment, and instrumentation.
Prior to this, CHI Shanghai bunkered LNG to the vessel for six days at the yard’s jetty.
Following successful completion of its gas trials, the FSRU returned to CHI Shanghai’s yard on October 27, it said in a statement.
This was the last test for the converted vessel before delivery.
CHI Shanghai did not say when it expects to deliver the 2002-built converted FSRU, previously known as Galea.
LNG terminal launch expected in 2024
Cyprus announced the start of construction of its first LNG import facility at Vassilikos in July 2020.
The Natural Gas Infrastructure Company (ETYFA), a unit of DEFA, previously signed an EPCOM (engineer, procure, construct, operate, and maintain) contract with a consortium for the project.
The consortium comprises of state-owned China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering, a unit of CNPC, Metron Energy Applications, Hudong-Zhonghua, and Wilhelmsen Ship Management.
Besides the converted FSRU, the project includes a jetty, a pipeline, and other onshore and offshore related infrastructure in Vasilikos.
From there, gas will be piped to shoreside infrastructure with links to the country’s energy grid mainly for power generation purposes.
DEFA’s ETYFA previously expected to launch the LNG import project for power generation in summer 2022, but the project has been delayed.
According to DEFA, the company now expects the project to be completed in the second half of the next year.
Recent local reports also suggest that Cyprus may charter the FSRU in the meantime until the LNG import infrastructure is ready.
