GAC handles first floating storage regasification unit at Aqaba

Amman - As Jordan steps up its LNG imports, GAC was entrusted with handling the first gas carriers to offload at Aqaba. The country has signed a sales and purchase agreement with Shell for the delivery of nearly 17 million cubic meters per day of gas, equal to approximately 25% of the National Electric Power Company’s daily needs, signaling an increase in demand for shipping and logistics services to support incoming Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carriers. GAC Jordan acted as agent for the ‘Golar Eskimo’ when it made its port call to offload 144,218 cubic meters of LNG from Qatar. As Golar’s agent and partner of choice in the country, GAC Jordan delivered a host of integrated services to the vessel including online connectivity and resupply, whilst also taking care of all the vessel’s manpower, equipment and marine assets needs. GAC Jordan has handled ship-to-ship transfers of LNG from the ‘Castillo De Santisteban’, the first LNG carrier to call at Aqaba, and the ‘SCF Melampus’, to the ‘Golar Eskimo”. After loading, the LNG was regasified and pumped as natural gas to the NEPCO’s power stations. The GAC team also worked around-the-clock to coordinate the placement of six pneumatic fenders to create a protective buffer alongside the FSRU, the first operation of its kind to be conducted in the country. The task required careful co-ordination with a host of stakeholders and technical experts, and was overseen by GAC Jordan Managing Director Ghassoub Kawar and Deputy General Manager, Ibrahim Attieh. “As the government of Jordan seeks additional supplies to meet energy demand, GAC Jordan is looking forward to handling more gas carriers at Aqaba,” says Kawar. “Having handled the first FSRU to call at the port’s new terminal, we are now ramping up to handle many more vessels in the near future; with about 4 LNG carriers expected each month.”

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