ALTERNATIVE FUELS GREENPORT

Uruguay’s first LNG terminal back on track

11 years ago

Uruguay’s first LNG regasification terminal is back on track after lengthy delays, with new subcontractors in place and dredging works nearing completion.

Dredging work for the LNG terminal is 96% complete. Photo: Gas Sayago

Apparently, new subcontractors have been hired to replace Brazil’s Constructora OAS, which is said to have pulled out of a contract to build a breakwater and wharfs for the terminal in February. State-owned Gas Sayago said the project is still set to be completed by the end of next year.

Dredging works are currently being carried out near the Port of Montevideo by Chinese firm Shanghai Dredging Company (SDC). The access channel to the regasification terminal off Punta Sayago is nearing completion and all dredging works sit at 96% complete, with around 17 million cubic metres of sediment removed so far.

Terminal del Plata will consist of a jetty, an underwater pipeline, a land pipeline and a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU). It will have a storage capacity of 263,000m³ of LNG and a regasification capacity of 10,000,00m³ per day.

A consortium of France’s GDF Suez and Japan’s Marubeni won the contract for building and operating the LNG terminal in 2013.

The LNG project is part of the country’s Energy Policy 2005-2030 that aims to ‘diversify’ national power generation while reducing costs and environmental impacts. The project will also reduce the proportion of imported oil in the country’s energy supply.