ECOnnect Energy, a Norway-based marine energy infrastructure solutions provider, has agreed to supply a floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) import terminal to New Providence Gas (NPG) in the Bahamas.
The contract will see ECOnnect deliver its IQuay C-Class platform, a floating transfer system designed to enable the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to New Providence, the largest island in the country.
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NPG is a joint venture between Shell Bahamas Power, a subsidiary of Shell, and Sun Oil, a subsidiary of Focol.
Last month, Shell announced a final investment decision on a new LNG regasification terminal at Clifton Pier in the Bahamas and acquired a 40% interest in NPG. Under the arrangement, NPG will construct, own and operate a small-scale LNG regasification terminal, with Shell supplying LNG for power generation on New Providence.
According to ECOnnect Energy, the new terminal aims to provide the Bahamas with access to a more stable and efficient fuel source, supporting the transition from oil and diesel to LNG.
For households and businesses in the Bahamas, energy costs have been closely linked to global oil prices, with the current system relying heavily on imported diesel and fuel oil, leading to high and volatile electricity prices.
The IQuay C-Class platform differs from conventional LNG terminals by using a floating offshore transfer system that connects carriers directly to onshore storage, without the need for fixed jetties or extensive coastal works.
ECOnnect Energy states that this design reduces marine construction, limits coastal disturbance and allows for faster deployment in sensitive island settings. The floating terminal, named La Santa Maria, is scheduled to leave Norway this autumn and will play a central role in the Bahamas LNG import project.
Shell will use its US LNG portfolio to provide a fuel supply for the project. The company said its experience in small-scale LNG operations and regional bunkering contributed to the design of the Bahamas solution.
ECOnnect Energy CEO Morten Christophersen said: “This is about enabling access to better energy solutions where they are needed most. With this project, we are helping secure energy supply while reducing energy poverty and local pollution.
“For island nations like in the Bahamas, flexibility and reliability is critical. We are proud to be working alongside our partners in Focol and Shell on such an important project.”
In 2017, ECOnnect Energy performed what it described as the world’s first LNG transfer without a fixed jetty using the IQuay C-Class system. The platform’s modular design is intended to offer operational flexibility, rapid deployment and reduced environmental impact compared to traditional fixed infrastructure.
