Save for later Print Download Share LinkedIn Twitter Excelerate has won a tender to reinstall a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) at Bahia Blanca in Argentina, as the country completes its flip back toward LNG importing (LNGI Mar.3'21). The floating LNG specialist won a tender launched in February, according to Excelerate South America Vice President Gabriela Aguilar. Speaking at an International Gas Union webinar this week, she said that the FSRU would be stationed at its original site for a period of three months only. Services at the terminal will start in May, the company told Energy Intelligence. No further information as to whether the FSRU would return again next year was available prior to publishing. Excelerate, according to sources in Argentina, was expected to be the front-runner to provide the country's second FSRU once more. The Bahia Blanca FSRU was let go during the Macri administration in 2018. Since then, Argentina has been importing LNG solely through its Escobar FSRU terminal, also in Buenos Aires, and also operated by Excelerate, although not without obstacles. The 5.2 million ton per year Escobar FSRU has been closed since October on fears of a potential explosion. Following government warnings of gas shortages during the upcoming winter, a federal judge lifted the closure in March. The plant is expected to reopen in May, which may coincide with the re-installment of Bahia Blanca (LNGI Mar.5'20). In October, Argentina's long-held plans to become an LNG exporter were scrapped, after YPF settled a dispute with vessel owner Exmar for the termination of the lease of the Tango floating liquefaction unit (LNGI Oct.21'20). “We are pleased to once again partner with Argentina to deliver clean, reliable energy to the region," Excelerate Chief Commercial Officer Daniel Bustos said this week, adding that the firm had "a long track record of providing flexible solutions that can meet the evolving needs of our customer, [state-run energy company] IEASA." Alexandra Chapman, London
