Exmar confirmed that it has completed the commissioning of the Tango FLNG. “The performance acceptance tests has been successful, the first cargo has been offloaded and will be exported out of Argentina.”
With this first shipment the start-up of the Tango FLNG is accomplished “in a record time following the contract signing in November 2018 and delivery acceptance of the unit in Bahia Blanca in February 2019.”
For YPF, the delivery of the first LNG cargo of about 25,000-CM from the Vaca Muerta shale gas reserves marks the entry of Argentina to the club of global LNG exporting nations, Exmar remarked. “The unit is generating earnings since early May and is expected to be fully on stream after the Argentine winter season.”

Backgrounds:

On 11 Sep. 2017, Exmar confirmed that it has still not found an employment for its Caribbean FLNG currently located at the Wison Offshore & Marine’s yard.
On 26 Oct. 2017, Reuters reported that Exmar is in negotiations for the use of its Caribbean FLNG for an Iranian export project as the barge-based liquefaction facility remains unemployed after its contract with Colombia was terminated.
The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) said that it would supply 2.3 MMCM/D of feedgas to the project, led by Norway’s IFLNG, and that it expected to use the Caribbean FLNG vessel. However, Exmar has reminded that a deal to use its FLNG facility was the subject of ongoing talks. “We are not denying, but there is no deal yet, we are still negotiating.” “No income is expected from the Caribbean FLNG before the end of 2018,” it said.
On 5 Feb. 2018, NIOC confirmed that it has scrapped its initial agreement with Hemla-led JV for utilizing Caribbean FLNG in Iran.
On 26 Apr. 2018, Exmar announced that “the floating liquefaction barge CFLNG has left Wison shipyard to a temporary location at Cosco shipyard in China for lay-up awaiting final deployment with several candidate projects under consideration.”
On 25 Oct. 2018, Exmar reported that Caribbean FLNG (CFLNG), ready at the yard, is being prospected for several LNG export opportunities amongst others in Argentina for YPF. Exmar “remains comfortable that the unit will be able to start its gas liquefaction operations in 2019.”
On 21 Nov. 2018, Exmar and Argentina’s state-run YPF announce the signing of a firm, 10-year agreement to deploy Exmar-owned 0.5 MMT/Y barge-based floating LNG liquefaction unit currently known as Caribbean FLNG to produce and export LNG from the Vaca Muerta source at the Neuquén Basin in Argentina. “Exmar’s FLNG barge will be named Tango FLNG and be deployed to the port of Bahia Blanca.”
Exmar-YPF deal is a tolling agreement between both parties with the necessary permits and the infrastructure onshore confirmed as available, the Belgium-based shipping company said, adding that “up to eight LNG cargoes per year will be produced over a ten-year period.”
Tango FLNG planned to arrive on site at Bahia Blanca and start-up of operations are anticipated during the second quarter of 2019. “The hire rate of the unit is partially based on a floating rate with an expected EBITDA of around USD 43.0 million per year based on the estimated production of the Tango FLNG with upside potential depending on the market environment,” according to Exmar’s announcement.
YPF has said that it plans to “take full advantage of the seasonal opportunity with Asian markets and our unique location to serve demand centers.”
On 27 Dec. 2018, Exmar announce that its Tango FLNG, has left China to the destination of its liquefaction operations at Bahia Blanca, Argentina. “Tango FLNG is now on the move, just one month after contract signing, and the voyage to Argentina is expected to take approximately 45 days.”
Upon its arrival, Tango FLNG will be put in operation for Argentina state-run YPF and is expected to start up LNG production in the second quarter of 2019, Exmar said, adding that Tango FLNG is designed for a liquefaction capacity of about 0.5 MMT/Y of LNG and “is to play a central role in YPF’s efforts to export the Vaca Muerta gas reserves to the international markets.”
On 6 Feb. 2019, Exmar announced that its Tango FLNG has berthed in Bahia Blanca, Argentina where it will stay and produce LNG for export for YPF over a 10-year period. The unit was transported from China to Argentina onboard a heavy lift vessel.
The next major project milestone will involve outfitting and commissioning the unit. The departure of the first fully-loaded conventional LNG carrier is expected in the second quarter of 2019, Exmar said.
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Exmar takes delivery of the Caribbean FLNG vessel