BP announced in its earnings report for Tuesday that the FLNG project offshore Mauritania and Senegal has been delayed.
BP announced that “Greater Tortue Ahmeyim Phase 1” is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2024. Kosmos Energy, a non-operating member of the project, is a partner that BP claims could turn Mauritania into a global LNG player within 30 years.
The Tortue field, according to BP and Kosmos estimates, could contain 15 tcf of recoverable gas resource potential. GTA Phase 1 is the first step in establishing the basin as a world-class gas province and major LNG hub, BP says on its website.
Kosmos considers the project to be among the lowest-cost greenfield projects in the world, with the first phase delivering approximately 2.5 mmtpa of natural gas. It is also one of the deepest subsea developments in Africa.
Mauritania and Senegal have classified the project as a National Project of Strategic Importance due to the project’s potential to secure domestic energy and energy revenues for the countries.
Phase 1 of the FLNG project comprises an ultra-deepwater subsea system with four gas production wells, a mid-water FPSO vessel, and an FLNG facility.
Originally targeted for first gas in 2022, the project encountered several delays, including COVID-related disruptions, pushing the timeline to 2023 and now further to 2024. Concerns have been raised by some contractors who claim delayed payments for their completed work.
The announcement of Phase 2 of the project took place in February of this year, with an anticipated production capacity of up to 3 mmtpa.
