LNG factory ship

Norwegian gas transportation group, KANFA Aragon, has awarded a multi-million contract to Atlas Copco to supply the world’s first floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant.

The order was won through Atlas Copco’s Gas and Process division, and involves the supply of six turboexpander compressors aboard an M-flex storage vessel.

The compressors will be used to produce the low-temperature nitrogen needed in the liquefaction process that drives the floating LNG plant.

Ronnie Leten, business area president at Atlas Copco, said: ‘This project is evidence of our position as a global leader in LNG applications, with a unique ability to serve customers for any application in this growing market.

'The contract also shows that our acquisition of Mafi-Trench in 2007 is already paying great dividends.’

The LNG floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) is designed to safely process and store natural gas extracted from an offshore site before it is loaded to an LNG tanker.


The first site is expected to be off the coast of Nigeria.

During full operating capacity, the vessel can treat and liquefy 1.7 million tonnes of gas each year, and will help meet the rising global demand for natural gas.