Excelerate Energy completes Bangladesh’s first LNG import facility

U.S.-based LNG solutions company Excelerate Energy has completed the commissioning of the Moheshkhali Floating LNG (MLNG) terminal – Bangladesh’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility.

Excelerate said that its subsidiary, Excelerate Energy Bangladesh Limited, commissioned the MLNG terminal on August 18, 2018, signifying the official start of operations for the project.

This milestone was achieved approximately 25 months after the execution of project agreements with the state-owned Bangladesh Oil, Gas & Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) in July 2016 and 13 months following the financial arrangements with lenders, led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), in August 2017.

The company added that the construction activities were completed during the southwestern monsoon.

Located offshore Moheshkhali Island in the Bay of Bengal, the terminal has begun delivering natural gas to the Chittagong region of Bangladesh, marking the first time the country has received natural gas from the global market.

According to the company, the new terminal enables Petrobangla to procure LNG from international markets and is expected to increase natural supply to the country by 20 percent.

Excelerate’s managing director, Steven Kobos, said: “This innovative project would not be possible without the tremendous support and collaboration of Petrobangla and the Government of Bangladesh. I am proud of our team for successfully completing this critical piece of infrastructure under some of the most challenging offshore conditions.

“I believe that MLNG will support the future growth of Bangladesh’s economy, and we are committed to providing safe and reliable operations for many years to come.”

Hyun-Chan Cho, IFC regional head of infrastructure in Asia, added: “This is a thrilling achievement for Bangladesh, and IFC congratulates the Government of Bangladesh, Petrobangla, and Excelerate Energy who have been tremendous partners to work with. MLNG is a transformational project that will create a new market for energy supplies into the country, help diversify fuel sources and secure the much-needed additional natural gas to address power shortages in the country.”

Excelerate first began developing the MLNG terminal with the Government of Bangladesh in 2012 which, at the time, was seeking reliable gas import infrastructure solutions that could withstand the demanding operational conditions of the Bay of Bengal.

“Excelerate has always been at the forefront of developing creative offshore LNG solutions in a safe, sustainable manner for our customers. This same culture […] was employed throughout the development of MLNG in Bangladesh, where the demanding sea states and monsoon weather patterns in the Bay of Bengal can present unique challenges,” added Kobos.