MOL in pole position to provide FSRU for Hong Kong LNG import project

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) snatched a preliminary agreement to supply a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) and accompanying services for the Hong Kong Offshore LNG terminal project. 

The additional services include the jetty operation and maintenance services, MOL said in a statement.

MOL FSRU Challenger, with a storage capacity of 263,000 cubic meters, the largest FSRU in the world, would be deployed at the project.

The FSRU was constructed at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in South Korea and is currently employed on a mid-term charter for a project in Turkey.

The Hong Kong Offshore LNG terminal project will be located at the southern waters of Hong Kong and to the east of the Soko Islands.

The FSRU is expected to enter into service at the project around the end of 2020 earliest after delivery and completion of commissioning. It will distribute gas to two destinations in Hong Kong, the Black Point power station located at New Territories and Lamma power station located at Lamma Island.

The Hong Kong Offshore LNG terminal project is being developed to support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government’s target of generating about half of Hong Kong’s electricity from natural gas from 2020 onward to improve air quality and environmental conditions.

Planning for the project is progressing with the environmental impact assessment study for the project already submitted to the government.

Discussions are ongoing to develop and reach a definitive agreement for the supply of the FSRU which will assist in improving the long-term energy security for Hong Kong.