Oman LNG LLC, Oman, said last week that its second natural gas liquefaction train is ready for start-up following the successful loading and export of the first LNG cargo to South Korea in April (OGJ, Apr. 17, 2000, p. 42). The second train is ready 2 weeks ahead of schedule, but start of production will be delayed several weeks to allow the train to be cooled down to �161� C., the point at which natural gas liquefies.
Oman LNG shortly will be able to begin the build-up to its full production capacity of 6.6 million tonnes/year, said Graham Searle, general manager and CEO of Oman LNG.
The plant began producing LNG from the first of the two process trains about 2 months ago. It is now nearly complete, with the formal hand-over of the site to Oman LNG from Chiyoda Foster Wheeler, the plant's main contractor, set for third quarter 2000.
Regular shipments have commenced to Oman LNG's largest customer, Korea Gas Corp., with shipments to other long-term buyers Osaka Gas Co. Ltd., Japan, and Dabhol Power Co., India, scheduled for November 2000 and late 2001, respectively.
Oman LNG is a joint venture of Oman (51%), Royal Dutch/Shell Group (30%), TotalFinaElf SA (5.54%), Korea LNG (5%), Mitsubishi Corp. (2.77%), Mitsui & Co. (2.77%), Partex (2%), and Itochu Corp. (0.92%).
