PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago (Energy Chamber) says the National Energy Explorer, a fast crew supply vessel, has been awarded a charter to support offshore operations in Angola, West – Central Africa.
“According to the company, the vessel will serve as a vital connector in offshore operations. It will provide fast transport for crew, equipment, and essential supplies between their onshore facility and Agogo’s Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility,” the Energy Chamber said in a statement.
It said that the FPSO has departed China and is en route to Angola, where it is scheduled to commence production in September. The FPSO was initially built in 2009 as a crude oil tanker and has since been converted to an FPSO with a post-combustion carbon capture function. By capturing CO2 from the combustion of gas turbines on board, the FPSO can reduce carbon emissions by as much as 27 percent.
“It’s a proud moment for all of us on board. Taking the National Energy Explorer to Angola shows the strength of our training, teamwork, and commitment to excellence. We’re ready to represent Trinidad and Tobago out there and deliver world-class service,” said Kevin Phillips, the head of vessel operations.
The Energy Chamber said that a key part of a national diversification strategy also includes the development of companies that can export services. In the energy sector, many energy services companies have been successful in landing contracts regionally as the market for energy services opens up in Guyana and Suriname.
The Energy Chamber said it has worked with its members to penetrate those regional markets and open up other potential markets outside the region. It recalls that in 2011, the Energy Chamber led a trade mission to several nations in West Africa, including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
“The National Gas Company and other companies within the NGC Group have been particularly successful in working in the African market. Last week, the National Energy Explorer, one of National Energy’s Fast Crew Supply Vessels, was awarded a charter to support offshore operations in Angola, West – Central Africa.
“The charter of the Explorer marks a milestone in National Energy’s strategy to expand the reach of its marine services in the international offshore energy sector. It also demonstrates the capability of the company’s fleet to meet the demands of complex offshore operations beyond Trinidad and Tobago’s borders.
National Energy is part of the state-owned National Gas Company (NGC). The Group has been involved in several initiatives in the African region over the last 20 years. Since 2006, NGC and its subsidiaries have supported the government-led ‘African Initiative,’ which seeks to establish partnerships and leverage synergies with African energy-producing nations.
The Group has had several engagements with Mozambique, Ghana, and Tanzania, with the ECTT saying that National Energy has a mandate to lead the export promotion of energy services and has been collaborating with the Energy Chamber in executing this mandate.
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