Samsung Heavy held the launching ceremony for PFLNG Tiga (SN 2661) on Wednesday.
According to the shipbuilder, more than 150 people attended the ceremony, including officials from Petronas and Japan’s JGC.
Samsung Heavy officially started building the FLNG at its yard in Geoje last year.
Once in operation, it will become Malaysia’s first nearshore FLNG facility. The nearshore FLNG will be moored at the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP) in Sabah.
According to Samsung Heavy, this third FLNG facility will produce 2.1 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG and is targeted to start operations in May 2027.
The FLNG’s hull is 281 meters long and 64 meters wide, with a depth of 32 meters. Its gross deadweight is about 50,000 tons.
Following the launch, Samsung Heavy will moor the FLNG at the quay to install the hull interior, LNG storage tanks, and topsides.
The shipbuilder said the key construction process is installing plant facilities weighing about 40,000 tons on the topside.
Samsung Heavy, in collaboration with consortium partner JGC, will fabricate 11 modules weighing 2,000 to 7,000 tons and complete the loading using a 9,000-ton crane.
The FLNG is expected to set sail in February 2027.
JGC confirmed in January 2023 that it had won the contract with Samsung Heavy to build the FLNG for Petronas.
The two firms already built the second FLNG, PFLNG Dua, for the Malaysian firm.
The nearshore LNG plant will increase Petronas’ LNG production from floating LNG facilities from 2.7 mtpa to 4.7 mtpa.
Currently, Petronas operates two floating LNG facilities, namely the 1.2 mtpa PFLNG Satu and the 1.5 mtpa PFLNG Dua, both located offshore Sabah.
