A first cargo has finally left BP’s floating LNG (FLNG) 2.4 million tonne per annum Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project on the maritime border of Mauritania and Senegal.
The 173,400-cbm British Sponsor (built 2019) sailed from the GTA hub on Tuesday.
Kpler data shows the vessel is headed to Asia, but further details on the ship’s destination have yet to emerge.
Sister ship the British Achiever (built 2018) is also waiting off the GTA hub, with observers suggesting this vessel could be next to load at the facility.
Those following the operation, which has been weeks in the making, said it marks a historic milestone for the region’s oil and gas sectors.
It also marks a new FLNG facility coming into production.
Golar LNG said the offloading of the first full LNG cargo triggers the final pre-commercial operations date (COD) milestone bonus payment to Golar under the terms of the commercial reset the company agreed with BP in August 2024.
The FLNG unit provider said commissioning remains on track for a second quarter 2025 COD date.
Golar said this triggers the start of the 20-year Lease and Operate Agreement that unlocks the equivalent of around $3 billion of adjusted EBITDA backlog for Golar and recognition of contractual payments comprised of capital and operating elements.
BP senior vice president for Mauritania and Senegal Dave Campbell said: “This is a very proud day for Mauritania and Senegal.”
The major said: “This first cargo from Mauritania and Senegal marks a significant new supply for global energy markets. Starting exports from GTA Phase 1 is an important step for bp and our oil and gas business as we celebrate the creation of a new production hub within our global portfolio.”
Delays
The British Sponsor, which also shipped in the commissioning volumes for the FLNG project, berthed across the jetty from Golar LNG’s 2.3-mtpa FLNG unit Gimi in February.
The first shipment was originally due to be exported during the first quarter of 2025, but delays occurred and the LNG carrier was moved on and off the jetty before the final volumes were loaded.
The whole GTA project has suffered considerable delays and Gimi, which is moored to a breakwater about 10 km offshore, has been waiting on site for over a year.
The FLNG unit began receiving feedgas from the project’s floating production, storage and offloading unit in January.
