The approval of the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Delfin FLNG 1 project marks a significant milestone for the U.S. energy sector and is expected to further expand the country’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity. Once completed, it will become the first floating LNG (FLNG) facility in the United States and one of the largest floating LNG complexes in the world.
According to sea-news.az citing Seanews.az, the facility will be located approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Louisiana. In its initial phase, the project is expected to produce and export 4.4 million tonnes of LNG per year. Upon full development, the complex—consisting of three FLNG vessels—will have a combined annual production capacity of 13.2 million tonnes.
The project is valued at approximately US$5 billion and has attracted investment from major players in the global energy and financial sectors, including Global Infrastructure Partners (BlackRock), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Vitol, and Diameter Capital Partners.
The FLNG platform has been designed in cooperation with Samsung Heavy Industries, one of South Korea’s leading shipbuilding companies. Under the current schedule, the first floating LNG facility is expected to enter service in 2030.
Industry experts believe the project will strengthen the United States’ position in the global LNG market and provide additional opportunities to diversify gas supplies to European and Asian markets. They also note that FLNG technology reduces the need for large onshore infrastructure, enabling a more flexible and competitive LNG export model.
