FLNG—a quiet revolution
Shell and Petronas pushed the technology first, but African developers are poised to transform the continent into an FLNG production hub
The time has come to find out if liquefaction for floating liquefied natural gas is all it's cracked up to be. Several high-profile projects are in development—and one of the principal test beds will be sub-Saharan Africa, now a magnet for investment in the fledgling sector. Two of the world's first major FLNG projects are elsewhere—Petronas's PFLNG Satu facility, capable of processing 1.2m tonnes a year, is already operating in Malaysia, and Shell's giant 3.6m-t/y Prelude project should start production offshore Western Australia next year. But around 30% of global capital expenditure on FLNG over the next six years is planned for projects operating in Africa. Engineers are confident the te
Also in this section
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026
1 December 2025
The North African producer’s first bidding round in almost two decades is an important milestone but the recent extension suggests a degree of trepidation
