Snam and BW LNG have finalised the purchase by Snam Group of 100% of the share capital of FSRU I Limited, which owns the Floating, Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) “BW Singapore”.
The deal was sealed, after the signing of an agreement last year, for a total price of around $400 million (about €367 million).
The BW Singapore can operate both as an LNG carrier and as an FSRU. The ship was built in 2015 and has a storage capacity of about 170,000 cubic metres of liquefied natural gas and a regasification capacity of about 5 billion cubic metres per year.
The unit will be located off the coast of Ravenna, around 8 kilometres away from the Punta Marina area, and will start operations in 2025, after concluding the related permitting and regulatory process and finalizing the necessary works for mooring and connecting it to the transportation network, which have already started.
Stefano Venier, Snam chief executive said: “By finalising the BW Singapore acquisition, Snam takes another important step towards ensuring energy security and diversification of Italy’s energy supplies, in a challenging and constantly evolving global context. Together with the Golar Tundra, which started its operations in Piombino in July 2023, the two FSRUs will increase the country’s total regasification capacity from the current 25% to around 40% of the overall natural gas demand”.
Yngvil Åsheim, BW LNG chief executive, noted: “We are delighted to collaborate with Snam to strengthen Italy’s energy security and diversify Europe’s gas infrastructure through the FSRU BW Singapore. We are also pleased to support Snam with all ship management and modification works necessary for allowing the vessel to start operations in Italian waters.”
In the coming months, Snam will also start activities for contracting the LNG regasification capacity that will gradually become available with the FSRU operations start, expected in 2025.
