Ship laden with LNG expected in Aqaba on Friday

AMMAN — A ship carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) is scheduled to arrive at Aqaba Port on Friday to supply the floating vessel and be distributed to the Kingdom after regasification, while the surplus will go to the Arab Gas Pipeline.

LNG is natural gas that has been converted to liquid form to facilitate storage and shipment, according to web sources. 

Aqaba Development Corporation Spokesperson Khalil Farayeh said the tender for the rented vessel was awarded to Golar LNG Ltd, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The company’s technical offer included supplying a new ship to be specially built for the project with a storage capacity of 160,000 cubic metres of natural gas per day. 

Moreover, the specialised vessel will not need to leave the Aqaba LNG Port for maintenance after its fifth year of service. 

The 10-year lease agreement was signed on July 31, 2013, giving the Energy Ministry the right to end the agreement after the fifth year.

The rented vessel can supply 490 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and could sometimes reach 715 million cubic feet per day, Petra reported.

Last month, Energy Minister Ibrahim Saif announced the start of experimental pumping of LNG from the Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Terminal in Aqaba to electricity generating stations across the Kingdom.

Saif said experimental and operational tests for the floating storage regasification unit vessel, rented to import LNG to Aqaba will continue until July 9. 

He added that the National Electric Power Company will rely on the gas terminal to secure around 90 per cent of electricity stations’ needs, replacing the diesel and heavy fuel oil currently used in power generation.