Tender for regasification

The Ministry of Energy and Water is preparing to launch a Request For Proposals for the installment of Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs) in Beddawi, Selaata, and Zahrani, according to Andre Graille, Senior Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Advisor at Poten and Partners, the Ministry’s consultant on the matter.

The FSRUs will transform liquid natural gas into a gaseous state so it can be transferred to power plants for the generation of electricity.

The FSRU is part of a major plan to build a coastal gas pipeline that will interconnect major power plants across the country. The pipeline network will be annexed to the FSRU to allow for the treating of imported liquefied gas.

The Expression of Interest for the new tender was launched last year. “According to a tentative schedule, gas could possibly flow to the power plants by 2021,” Graille said.

Poten and Partners estimates that demand for gas could reach 3.1 million tons by 2025.

The power sector will be the principal market for LNG. “At first, LNG will feed existing combined cycle gas turbine plants and power barges,” he said.

If everything goes as planned, the country could save up to $6-$10 billion within ten years by switching to LNG.

A tender for the development and installment of an FSRU was first launched in 2013, for the Deir Ammar site. But the tender was postponed.