Ghana Resurrects LNG Import Terminal With Chinese Deals

 Ghana has chosen two Chinese companies to build the infrastructure it needs to import liquefied natural gas, resurrecting the $350 million Tema terminal project that would make the country the first in sub-Saharan Africa to buy LNG.

Tema LNG, backed by Africa-focused private equity firm Helios Investment, signed deals with China Harbour Engineering Company to build onshore facilities and Jiangnan Shipyard for a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), the Ghanaian government said in a statement issued on Monday.

It gave no further financial details of the deals but said $200 million of the estimated cost of the project of over $350 million would be spent in Ghana itself.

LNG is expected to be sourced by Russian oil giant Rosneft , which has a 12-year deal to supply 1.7 million tonnes a year (mtpa) with Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, although the project has had previous LNG suppliers lined up.

Ghana has been trying to get an LNG import project off the ground for years, with two leading FSRU operators, Golar and Hoegh, earmarking their giant vessels for the country's eastern Tema port only to withdraw due to delays over contracts.

 s: rigzone