Oz FLNG Developer Makes Pact with Contractor

Australian floating LNG developer Transborders Energy announced on June 29 it had formed a partnership with Dutch contractor SBM Offshore on FLNG solutions for stranded offshore gas resources.

Transborders wants to provide pre-engineered solutions for 1.5mn mt/yr FLNG facilities, with a package of streamlined commercial arrangements and a regulatory approval execution plan to gas resource owners. In a statement, it said it had designated SBM Offshore as the exclusive contractor for providing front-end engineering design and engineering, procurement and construction services for the turret mooring and hull scopes of these facilities.

"We are very pleased to welcome SBM Offshore as our strategic partner," Transborders' managing director Daein Cha said. "SBM Offshore is the global leader for design, supply, installation, operations and leasing of floating production systems and is strategically committed to develop and operate our FLNG facilities."

Transborders has formed other strategic partnerships with Japan's Kyushu Electric Power and Mitsui OSK Lines, other LNG buyers and engineering firms. It says it can convert stranded gas resources into projects ready for a final investment decision within 24 months of its solution being deployed. Its work has been designated as a "major project' by the Australian government.