China delivers its largest domestically built floating LNG facility

China's largest domestically developed and built floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility, the NGUYA FLNG, was successfully delivered in the coastal city of Nantong, East China's Jiangsu Province under the escort of the Nantong Maritime Safety Administration on Sunday, China Media Group (CMG) reported.

The facility measures 376 meters in length,60 meters in breadth and 35 meters in depth, with the biggest tonnage and gas storage capacity of its kind. It has an LNG storage capacity of 180,000 cubic meters and a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage capacity of 45,000 cubic meters, with an annual LNG production capacity of 2.4 million tons.

The facility will be deployed in waters off the Republic of the Congo in Africa, marking a major breakthrough in China's manufacturing of high value-added offshore engineering equipment, according to CMG.

Given the vessel's unique design, massive size and the complexity of the navigation environment, the Nantong Maritime Safety Administration has carried out a series of navigation safety assessments after the departure ceremony on August 26, maritime officials said. Adjustments to the towing plan were made in response to tidal changes until the offshore towing operation was completed on Sunday.

A total of 14 patrol vessels and tugboats, eight law enforcement officers and three drones were deployed during the operation, according to the report. The towing convoy stretched 740 meters in length, setting a new record for coastal towing in Nantong.

Lin Boqiang, director of the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Sunday that the delivery marks a critical step forward in the country's offshore engineering equipment manufacturing. "This large-tonnage, high-capacity FLNG facility not only enhances China's voice in the international LNG market, but also accelerates the country's deeper development and utilization of marine energy," he said.

He further noted that China's natural gas extraction technologies are already world-class. Among fossil fuels, natural gas is relatively clean, with the lowest carbon content and emissions. He stressed that China's advanced equipment and competitive costs are not only driving global low-carbon development but also giving the country an edge in cooperation with Belt and Road partner countries. "For some nations where economic conditions remain challenging, affordable and efficient solutions matter greatly. With strong technologies and favorable costs, Chinese partners are often viewed as a preferred option," he remarked.