Höegh LNG - Awarded FSRU Contract in Chile
Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd. (the "Company" or "Höegh LNG") on 26 May 2015 signed an FSRU contract with Octopus LNG SpA ("Octopus") for the Penco-Lirquén LNG import terminal to be located in Concepción Bay, Chile. The contract is for a period of 20 years and is expected to generate an average annual EBITDA of around USD 36 million. The contract is subject to Octopus completing financing and obtaining necessary environmental approvals, and the planned start-up is in the second quarter 2018. The Company will service the contract with an FSRU from its newbuilding program currently in progress. The FSRU will be offered to Höegh LNG Partners LP in due course.
Höegh LNG's President and Chief Executive Officer, Sveinung J. S. Støhle, said in a comment: "We are delighted to have been awarded the contract with Octopus for their new LNG import terminal in Chile, and look forward to completing the project together with our client. Our modern FSRU solutions offer our client the most cost efficient way of importing LNG to meet an increasing demand for natural gas used in power production in Chile. With this contract we have full contract coverage for our FSRU fleet and are therefore contemplating the next step in our FSRU expansion program."
Octopus' General Manager, Alfonso Ardizzoni, said in a statement "We appreciate Höegh LNG's FSRU expertise, which allowed us to present a competitive and successful bid in the recent public tender process ran by the Comisión Nacional de Energía for the supply of electricity to distribution companies in the Sistema Interconectado Central, the Chilean main electric grid. Höegh LNG's technology is a key service component of the natural gas delivery chain that will enable the construction of our El Campesino Power Plant as well as supplying the growing demand of natural gas in the Bio Bio region. We expect the LNG import terminal to substantially increase the reliability and competitiveness of the power generation and natural gas markets in Chile and are looking forward to a long term relationship with Höegh LNG".
About Octopus
Octopus LNG SpA is a project development company created to provide LNG storage and regasification services to power generators and industrial users in the Bio Bio region of Chile. Octopus is 50% owned by Biobiogenera, which is a joint venture between Andes Mining & Energy (a Chile-based independent power producer) and Beacon Investments (a Chile-based industrial group). The remaining 50% participation is held by Cheniere Energy, a Houston-based energy company primarily engaged in LNG-related businesses.
About Höegh LNG:
Höegh LNG provides floating energy solutions and operates world-wide with a leading position as owner and operator of floating LNG import terminals; Floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs). The Company has developed low-cost solutions for floating liquefaction terminals (FLNG) and is one of the most experienced operators of LNG Carriers (LNGCs). Höegh LNG's vision is to be the leading provider of floating LNG solutions and the strategy is to continue to focus its growth plans on the FSRU and the FLNG market, with the objective of securing long-term contracts with strong counterparts at attractive returns. Höegh LNG is a Bermuda based company with established presence in Oslo, Singapore, London, Miami, Jakarta, Klaipeda and Cairo. The company employs approximately 100 office staff and 500 seafarers
Contacts:
Sveinung J. S. Støhle, President and Chief Executive Officer, Telephone +47 975 57 402
Steffen Føreid, Chief Financial Officer, Telephone + 47 975 57 406
Birgitte Hjertum, VP Strategy and Investor Relations, Telephone +47 975 57 432
This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act or the Continuing Obligations of Oslo Børs