Alexandroupolis FSRU conversion nearing completion

Seatrium’s yard in Singapore is finalizing the conversion work on the 153,600-cbm FSRU that will serve Gastrade’s FSRU-based LNG import project in Greece’s Alexandroupolis.

Gastrade said in a social media post on Tuesday that its managing director Konstantinos Sifnaios visited the FSRU at Keppel Offshore & Marine, now part of Seatrium, as the delivery of the converted unit is “getting closer”.

Sifnaios was accompanied by officials from some of Gastrade’s shareholders, including GasLog, Bulgartransgaz, and DESFA, the firm said in the post.

The company’s shareholders are also founder Copelouzou and DEPA.

Gastrade did not provide any additional information in the post.

Bulgartransgaz said in a separate statement that its executive director Vladimir Malinov participated in the visit to the shipyard.

“On site, the project shareholders were informed about a potential delay in implementation of the activities,” Bulgartransgaz said.

“In this regard, they discussed measures to optimize the construction of the floating unit of the liquefied gas terminal near Alexandroupolis,” the firm said without providing further details regarding the potential delay.

Image: Gastrade

First Greek FSRU

Gastrade took the final investment decision on the project worth 363.7 million euros ($390.5 million) in January last year and officially started construction in May the same year.

Moreover, shareholder and LNG shipping firm GasLog told Keppel Offshore & Marine in February last year to proceed with the conversion of the 2010-built, GasLog Chelsea, to an FSRU.

GasLog will sell this unit to Gastrade for about $265 million.

The vessel entered the yard in February this year and the partners renamed it to Alexandroupoli.

With the Alexandroupolis project, Greece will get its first FSRU and the second LNG import facility, adding to DESFA’s import terminal located on the island of Revithoussa.

Gastrade is also planning to install a second FSRU offshore Alexandroupolis.

Greece’s first FSRU will connect to the gas grid via a 28 km long pipeline, which includes offshore and onshore sections, to supply the markets of Greece, Bulgaria, and also the wider region.

Also, Denmark’s Svitzer, a unit of Maersk, recently secured a contract from Gastrade to provide towage services for the latter’s FSRU-based LNG import project in Alexandroupolis.

Svitzer said the Alexandroupolis LNG terminal is set to become operational in the beginning of 2024.

Gastrade previously said that the project with a capacity of 5.5 Bcm could start commercial operation in the fourth quarter of this year.

LNG Prime invited Gastrade to comment on the terminal’s launch, but we did not receive a reply by the time this article was published.

Most Popular

Woodside issues Louisiana LNG construction update

In October 2024, Woodside acquired all issued and outstanding Tellurian common stock for about $900 million cash, or $1.00 per share....

Samsung Heavy nets first LNG carrier order in 2025

Samsung Heavy said on Monday that it will build the LNG carrier for an unidentified owner in Oceania. The shipbuilder...

Golar’s Macaw produces first LNG at small liquefaction unit in Texas

Macaw announced in a social media post on Wednesday it achieved its first LNG from stranded flare in Texas...

More News Like This

Greek LNG imports drop in 2024

The Greek gas grid and LNG terminal operator said Revithoussa LNG shipments in 2024 totaled 18.69 terawatt hours (TWh)...

Greece’s Alexandroupolis FSRU receives new LNG shipment

The 2023-built 174,000-cbm, Maran Gas Marseille, which is on charter to France’s TotalEnergies, was on Tuesday morning local time located...

Wartsila to support GasLog’s LNG carrier quintet

A unit of Finland’s Wartsila has signed a deal with Greek shipowner GasLog to support the latter’s five liquefied...

Seatrium, Golar agree to let third FLNG conversion contract lapse

Seatrium, previously known as Sembcorp Marine and renamed as Seatrium following its merger with Keppel Offshore & Marine, revealed this in a...