The installation of the components on the 'Prometheus' vessel is expected to be completed by the end of November or early December, after which the vessel will be sent to a terminal to be certified as a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU), the Chairman of the Board of the Natural Gas Infrastructure Company (ETYFA), George Ashikalis, has revealed.
'Prometheus' is an LNG tanker, under Cyprus' flag, intended to be used as an FSRU, eventually connected to Vasilikos Terminal, to provide Cyprus with natural gas. The whole project has faced delays. The vessel sailed from Shanghai on 14 December 2024, and has been anchored in a Malaysian port since Christmas Eve 2024. In May, it underwent an inspection by ETYFA's engineers and has been waiting the installation of said components since. The Vasilikos Terminal has also been halted following the termination of CMC's contract. The project is under investigation by EPPO, while Brussels has demanded the repayment of €67 million in EU funding the project has already received.
In statements to CNA, Ashikalis said that the terminal where 'Prometheus' will ultimately be sen to for FSRU certification will depend on the gap analysis being conducted by the project manager regarding Vasilikos Terminal, which is expected to be delivered on 19 December.
He noted that all necessary components are currently on the ship awaiting installation, emphasising that this development is “very important.” He added that the reason the installation has taken so long is “because the components were not ready, and they require time to be manufactured and delivered.”
“Now the components are on the ship, and work is progressing to carry out the installation," he added.
The ETYFA Chairman said that the installation of the components is expected to be completed by the end of November or early December, at which point the vessel will be ready to sail to a terminal for certification as a floating gas regasification or liquefaction unit.
“It will either come to our terminal in Vasilikos, depending on developments, or we will find another terminal abroad to complete the FSRU certification,” he added.
He explained that this is necessary to verify in practice that the vessel can maintain natural gas at minus 160 degrees Celsius without it evaporating.
Furthermore, Ashikalis said that “research and consultations are ongoing to determine the course of construction for the Vasilikos Terminal.”
If the terminal construction is expected to be completed soon, the 'Prometheus' will be moved to Vasilikos, he added.
Otherwise, if there is a delay in completing the terminal, the vessel will need to go to a foreign terminal for certification.
It all depends on the time required to complete the remaining work at the Vasilikos terminal (jetty, onshore terminal, and network), he noted.
Finally, Ashikalis told CNA that it is important that the vessel, which constitutes the heart of the entire system and “our largest expenditure,” amounting to €200 million, will be ready soon.
(Source: CNA)
