US-headquartered consultant Hill International has been selected to oversea a China-led consortium building the Cyprus Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Import Terminal Project, the country’s biggest energy project.
With a budget of around €289m, the EU-financed terminal will be built over two years at Vasilikos Bay on the southern coast of the Republic of Cyprus.
It follows the discovery of the Aphrodite natural gas field in the republic’s maritime exclusive economic zone.
Carrying out the work is a joint venture of China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering, Metron, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, and Wilhelmsen Ship Management, which won an international tender issued by the Natural Gas Infrastructure Company of Cyprus (ETYFA).
The project involves converting a former LNG carrier into a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) at a shipyard in China, and building a jetty and pipeline next to the Vasilikos Power Station in the the designated Vasilikos industrial area.
As owner’s engineer for ETYFA, Hill will carry out design reviews and supervise works at the shipyard in China and at the Vasilikos site.
Hill is leading a team formed with Bureau Veritas Maritime & Offshore Solutions and reputable engineering firms Tractebel and Gazocean.
"We are delighted and honored to support the Republic of Cyprus in delivering this critical infrastructure project," said Manolis Sigalas, Hill Vice President & Managing Director for Southern Europe.
"As this assignment requires multidisciplinary expertise in the fields of shipping, marine works, and gas infrastructure, we are excited to be leading such a distinguished team of global firms to support our client."
The project is co-financed by the European Union through a Connecting Europe Facility grant, loan facilities from the European Investment Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and equity participation by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus.
"This is an important win for Hill in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the regional oil and gas sector," said Hill chief executive, Raouf Ghali.
Image: The terminal will be next to the Vasilikos Power Station in the the designated Vasilikos industrial area (Google Earth)
