The first cargoes from the $4bn Yemen liquefied natural gas project could be delayed to the end of this year due to technical problems, according to local sources.
The first cargoes from the $4bn Yemen liquefied natural gas project could be delayed to the end of this year due to technical problems, according to local sources.
Commissioning issues, including leaking valves, have plagued the new LNG plant in Yemen, which is operated by French group Total.
For this reason the project will miss an earlier revised target of first LNG exports in August, said the project operator.
Joel Fort, chief executive of the plant, said the first shipment target had been put back to mid-September because of start-up problems.
Sources in Yemen said that commissioning work could continue to the end of this year or could be finished early next year.
Total was unable to comment on the issue of delays when contacted.
There are at least six LNG carriers assigned to transport gas to North America, Europe and Asian markets.
Malaysia"s MISC-owned Seri Balhaf and Seri Balqis, both delivered this year, are associated with the Yemen LNG project, according to Lloyd"s MIU Global LNG Tracker.
Total also has the 2008-built Maersk Arwa and Maersk Marib chartered for the plant"s exports and there are two 2008-built Korea Gas-operated ships, Hyundai Ecopia and K. Mugungwha, ready to transport Yemeni gas.
The Yemen plant will be capable of exporting 6.7m tonnes per annum for the next 20 years. The project partners have long-term supply contracts with energy companies in North America and South Korea.
The plant owners were preparing for the arrival of the first vessel. At the end of last month two tug boats, Lamnalco Sana"a and Lamnalco Aden, arrived at the port in Balhaf Bay.
They are the first of four tugs being built for the project and will be used to tow LNG carriers to the loading jetty.
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