Mina Al-Ahmadi GasPort®

Location: Mina Al-Ahmadi, Kuwait
Date: Commissioned August 2009
Owner: Kuwait National Petroleum Company

Background

Kuwait, as one of the world’s highest per-capita consumers of electricity, was unable to produce enough gas to generate the power it needed. Instead, the nation was relying on higher-cost crude oil to generate power. This was detrimental to both their economy and the environment. Working with Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), Excelerate Energy designed and constructed the Mina Al-Ahmadi GasPort (MAAGP). Located approximately 20 miles south of Kuwait City, MAAGP was Kuwait’s first LNG import terminal. The facility was intended to be an interim solution to bridge the gap between Kuwait’s existing natural gas needs and the future development of domestic gas reserves.

Solution

Using Excelerate Energy’s GasPort technology, an Energy Bridge FSRU is stationed at the existing Mina Al-Ahmadi South Jetty facility and delivers regasified LNG at a baseload rate of up to 500 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) through our high-pressure gas arm. In addition, the MAAGP incorporates an innovative shuttle tanker berth that provides for ship-to-ship LNG transfer and boil-off gas management capabilities between a conventional LNG carrier and the FSRU. This allows Excelerate Energy to keep the FSRU on station while receiving cargo deliveries of LNG from conventional carriers dockside, resulting in a flexible terminal that can provide seasonal baseload service to Kuwait.

Results

The many compelling features of the MAAGP include the short time span between inception and in-service and low capital investment. MAAGP was developed from concept to commercial operations in just 18 months. The capital cost for the project, even with extensive refurbishments and enhancements made to the existing jetty facilities, was significantly less than that of a land-based facility of similar capacity. With the added benefit of seasonal flexibility and the resultant cost savings, our company’s partnership with KNPC on this project was a natural fit.

Key Facts

• Kuwait’s first LNG receiving facility
• GasPort dockside configuration
• Baseload throughput capacity 500 MMcf/d with peak capacity of 600 MMcf/d
• Seasonal facility planned for operations April through October
• Direct access to processing facilities and other industrial consumers
• Direct access to the Kuwait gas grid