SHI launches hull for giant FLNG unit, third in Petronas’ fleet

South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has held the hull launching ceremony for a floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) production facility it is building for Malaysia’s state-owned energy player Petronas.

Dubbed PFLNG Tiga, the unit was ordered by Petronas in December 2022, following a front-end engineering and design (FEED) tender in 2021. SHI’s partner in the project is JGC Corporation.

The facility is 281 meters long, 64 meters wide, and 32 meters deep. It is said to be 2.5 times larger than a soccer field (105 x 68 meters) with a launching weight of approximately 50,000 tons.

“This FLNG will not only provide an optimized route for offshore gas development but also help enhance Malaysia’s position as a leader in low-carbon energy,” said Adif Zulkifli, Executive Vice President & CEO of Petronas’ Gas & Maritime Business.

PFLNG Tiga is expected to produce 2.1 million tonnes of gas per year off the coast of Sipitang Oil and Gas Complex, in Sabah, Malaysia once it comes into operation, which is scheduled to take place in May 2027.

Ahn Youngkyu, Samsung Heavy Industries Marine Business Division Head, is convinced the PFLNG Tiga will become a new benchmark for units of its kind. According to Youngkyu, his company has maintained “overwhelming” competitiveness in the sector by securing orders for five out of nine FLNGs ordered worldwide.

After launching, SHI will moor the plant to the quay and proceed with manufacturing and loading the hull interior and LNG storage tanks, installing upper-level plant equipment, and insulation work, among other things.

The biggest challenge will entail installing a facility weighing approximately 40,000 tons on the topside. SHI and JGC expect to finish the manufacture of 11 modules weighing 2,000–7,000 tons and complete the loading using a 9,000-ton offshore crane by February 2027.

This comes on the heels of a new licensing round announced by Petronas last week. The round encompasses five exploration blocks and three discovered resource opportunities (DROs).