Installation of the remaining equipment on the Prometheus is expected to be completed by late November or early December, after which the vessel will proceed to a terminal for certification as a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU).
This was stated to the Cyprus News Agency by the president of the Natural Gas Infrastructure Company (ETYFA), Giorgos Ashikalis.
He said which terminal the Prometheus will ultimately be sent to for FSRU certification will depend on gap analysis studies being conducted by the project manager in relation to Vasilikos, which will be delivered on 19 December.
Ashikalis said all the necessary equipment is currently on board the vessel ready to be installed, stressing that this development is very important.
He added that the reason the equipment installation took so long is because ready-made components were not available, which required time to be manufactured and delivered.
The equipment is now on the vessel, and work is proceeding on the conversion, meaning its installation, he added.
The ETYFA president said it is now expected that by late November or early December the equipment installation will be completed and the vessel will be ready to proceed to a terminal for certification as a floating regasification unit.
The vessel will either come to our terminal at Vasilikos, depending on developments that occur by then for our terminal, or we will find another terminal to take the vessel to complete its certification as an FSRU, he added.
He explained that this is necessary to verify in practice that the vessel maintains the natural gas at minus 160 degrees Celsius without evaporation.
Additionally, Ashikalis said research and consultations are taking place to see what course the construction of the Vasilikos terminal will take.
If construction of the terminal is estimated to be completed soon, then the Prometheus will be transferred to Vasilikos, he added.
Otherwise, he continued, if there is a delay in completing the terminal, the vessel will have to go to a terminal abroad for certification.
According to the ETYFA president, everything depends on the gap analysis studies being conducted by the project manager in relation to Vasilikos and what completion timelines for the project he will provide.
He noted that the gap analysis will be delivered by the project manager on 19 December.
Everything depends on the time in which the remaining works at the Vasilikos terminal will be completed (jetty, onshore terminal and network), he noted.
Finally, Ashikalis said it is important that we will soon have the vessel ready, which constitutes the heart of the entire system and our biggest expense, amounting to €200 million.
(information from CNA)
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