GLNG: Crown LNG picks Aker for Indian project

Norway’s Crown LNG has picked compatriot Aker Solutions to serve as main contractor in the development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal offshore India’s south-eastern state of Andhra Pradesh.
Crown said on July 5 that Aker Solutions would first conduct the front-end engineering and design (FEED) for the 7.2mn tonne per year (tpy) LNG terminal, which will be located around 11 km offshore Kakinda City, before taking on the role as the project’s engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning (EPCIC) contractor once a final investment decision (FID) has been made.
Crown is developing the LNG terminal on behalf of its client KGLNG, which is a subsidiary of East LNG. The Norwegian developer signed an exclusive agreement with KGLNG in June to finance, build and lease the facility for 25 years.
The LNG infrastructure developer noted that it expected an FID to be reached by the end of 2022, with the terminal anticipated to come online approximately three years after that.
In addition to Aker’s appointment, Crown added that Siemens Energy and Wartsila Gas Solutions had been assigned as key sub-contractors to Aker. Siemens will develop the power generation and distribution system as well as the platform control system, while Wartsila will develop the terminal’s re-gasification system.
The terminal has been designed as a gravity-based concrete structure that will sit on the seabed, which should allow it to better withstand India’s monsoon season and operate year-round.
“This LNG terminal will be based in a location exposed to monsoon seasons, which requires partners with the best track record from harsh environment projects. This is why we have engaged Aker Solutions, Siemens Energy and Wartsila,” the CEO of project services subsidiary Crown LNG AS, Gunnar Knutsen, said.
KGLNG, which submitted a detailed project report (DPR) and environment impact assessment (EIA) report for the project to the state government in late 2014, had originally planned to adopt a floating LNG (FLNG) design. Crown, however, said KGLNG’s licence has recently been updated to reflect its solution and 365-day operational window.