Update: Petronas’ floating LNG producer loading first cargo

(Article updated on Friday, 31.03., to include a statement by Petronas)

Malaysian energy giant Petronas is expected to export the first ever liquefied natural gas cargo produced by its floating LNG unit. 

Citing sources, Reuters reported on Thursday that PFLNG Satu, located at the Kanowit gas field offshore Sarawak, Malaysia, is loading the cargo aboard the 150,200-cbm Seri Camellia LNG carrier.

The first ever cargo produced by any FLNG unit is expected to be dispatched in the following couple of days and set course for South Korea, the report said.

LNG World News contacted Petronas seeking information on the loading.

Petronas said in an emailed statement that the “PFLNG Satu is currently progressing in its offshore commissioning phase and is expected to achieve its commercial operations phase by the first half of 2017.”

Petronas did not comment on the loading of the first cargo.

“All updates on PFLNG SATU will be announced by Petronas in due course,” the company said.

The PFLNG Satu, that produced first LNG in December last year, is designed to last up to 20 years without dry-docking. The 365-meter long facility is expected to be able to produce 1.2 million tons of LNG per year.

By loading the milestone cargo, Petronas is set to beat its major rivals, like Shell, in the FLNG race.

The world’s largest FLNG unit, Shell’s Prelude is yet to be completed by Samsung Heavy and may start producing LNG by the end of his year. Exmar’s Caribbean FLNG unit, that has already produced the chilled fuel during the performance tests carried out at the Wison’s yard in Nantong, China, is yet to secure employment.

LNG World News Staff