Visiongain’s analysis indicates that the FLNG market will reach a value of $9.5bn in 2013, as confidence and investment continues in the regasification side of the market (FSRU) and final investment decisions are made on floating LNG production vessels (LNG FPSO).
One core factor underpinning this is the arbitrage opportunity that exists between the supply and demand sides of the global natural gas market, and the need to expand the LNG value chain in as many suitable ways as possible. Within the next five years, the North American market will also begin exporting LNG, as a result of the shale gas revolution. FLNG will be a part of the solution that meets the ever-increasing demands on the LNG value chain.
The lead analyst of the FLNG report commented that, ‘Three investment decisions have now been taken on floating LNG production vessels with more expected in the next two years. As confidence in the commercial viability, scalability and safety of deploying liquefaction technology offshore grows so will the number of projects that receive funding. It is true that this segment of the FLNG market is burdened by high capital expenditure, difficulties securing insurance and project finance, uncertainty about viability and doubts about safety; but some of the most reputable companies in the oil and gas industry are taking the step to make this concept commercially viable. On the regasification vessel side of the market, the short lead-in time needed to deploy these vessels, their competitive pricing and the shortfalls that many countries are experiencing in their natural gas supply, makes an FSRU a very attractive solution, especially for medium-term operations.’
[mappress] February 21, 2013