Wartsila Wins Dreifa Regas Contract

BVI-registered Dreifa Energy has awarded Finnish engineers Wartsila a contract to provide the regasification module for Dreifa's first floating regasification unit (FRU), it said December 5, giving disclosing price.

"Entering into the agreement is a significant step forward for Dreifa Energy in confirming a key part of the overall capital expenditure for the Dreifa FRU. Moreover, the recent approval in principle granted by DNV GL and the agreement with Wartsila enable Dreifa Energy to execute on a fast track project schedule by securing the long lead items for the first Dreifa FRU conversion project," it said.

Dreifa had approval in principle from DNV GL for its plan to use decades-old platform supply vessels as platforms for regasification units in late November. With their small capacity of about 1.5mn mt/yr, they would be able to service onshore gas-fired power plants in coastal or island communities with no other source of gas and presently served by more polluting diesel, for example. The low cost would also allow importers to test the market perhaps before committing to something bigger and more permanent.