ECOnnect Energy has signed an agreement with New Providence Gas Ltd (NPG), a joint venture between Shell Bahamas Power Company Inc (Shell) and Sun Oil Holdings Ltd (Sun Oil, a subsidiary of FOCOL Holdings Ltd) for the use of its floating marine LNG infrastructure. The solution will enable LNG delivery to The Bahamas, without the need for fixed jetty construction. The marine terminal will reduce environmental impact and accelerate LNG-to-power deployment on New Providence.

Norwegian technology company ECOnnect Energy has signed a charter agreement with New Providence Gas Ltd for the deployment of its IQuay™ C-Class floating LNG infrastructure to The Bahamas. Supporting the island’s transition from fuel oil and diesel to a lower-emission fuel source, the system will enable LNG imports from an LNG carrier to the onshore terminal without the coastal construction associated with a conventional fixed jetty.

“This is about enabling access to better energy solutions where they are needed most. With this project, we are providing the marine infrastructure to enable delivery of lower-carbon fuel. For island nations like The Bahamas, flexibility and reliability are critical. We are proud to be working alongside NPG on this fast-track energy project,” said Morten Christophersen, CEO of ECOnnect Energy.

THE CASE FOR GOING JETTYLESS

The Bahamas currently relies on imported fuel oil and diesel for the majority of its electricity generation. Energy costs have remained elevated for years, closely tied to global oil price movements. This project is aligned with the Bahamas government’s ambition to modernize the power sector, reduce emissions, enhance affordability, strengthen reliability and support a more competitive energy future for consumers and businesses. Replacing heavy fuel oil with LNG will reduce CO₂ emissions and local air pollutants, while providing a more stable input cost and higher efficiency for power generation.

The government chose to partner with NPG to develop the terminal, securing LNG supply and critical LNG infrastructure. “The project is intended to deliver a more reliable and efficient fuel supply for power generation in The Bahamas, while also helping to enhance the long-term competitiveness and resilience of the country’s energy system,” said Dexter Adderley, President and CEO of FOCOL Holdings.

Where the project differs from a conventional LNG import development is in how the fuel gets ashore. While a traditional terminal requires a fixed jetty, including marine piling work, seabed disturbance, extended construction windows, and significant permitting work, the IQuay™ C-Class solution simplifies all of that. The floating platform connects to an LNG carrier, and transfers LNG directly to onshore storage via flexible, floating insulated pipelines, causing minimal disturbance to the seabed and surrounding coastal environment.

HOW THE IQUAY™ C-CLASS SYSTEM WORKS

Suitably named “La Santa Maria”, the IQuay™ C-Class system is a floating offshore marine solution that connects LNG carriers or Floating Storage Units (FSUs) directly to the onshore pipeline, eliminating the need for a fixed jetty. The system can be integrated with onshore storage tanks.

The system is designed for rapid deployment compared to conventional infrastructure as it ships as a complete unit and can be commissioned without extensive on-site construction. Operational manning requirements are low, and the modular design allows the solution to be relocated or reconfigured if operational needs change over time.

GROWING TRACK RECORD

ECOnnect Energy is an international provider of complete marine infrastructure and energy transfer solutions. The company has systems in operation in Europe and South America, supporting both import and export activities. The agreement with NPG marks its second project in the Caribbean and reinforces strong collaboration with leading regional energy partners.

“This agreement adds to a growing track record of delivering a new generation of marine energy infrastructure. By challenging conventional approaches, we enable terminals to be built faster, safer, and at lower cost, removing key barriers to scaling energy infrastructure and accelerating the global energy transition,” added Christophersen.

DESIGNED FOR MULTIPLE ENERGY CARRIERS

While the immediate application is LNG, ECOnnect’s C-Class technology is engineered to handle a range of energy carriers. The modular architecture can be adapted to transfer ammonia or CO₂ as those supply chains mature, giving operators flexibility to repurpose infrastructure rather than replace it.

That adaptability is relevant for island markets in particular where the cost and complexity of building new infrastructure for each successive fuel transition is a constraint. A floating platform that can evolve with the energy mix represents a new, adaptable approach amid an evolving energy landscape.