Oil & Gas

Karpowership, in partnership with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines under the KARMOL joint venture, has launched Africa’s first LNG-to-power project, marking a significant milestone in the continent’s energy sector. This innovative approach utilizes a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) paired with a Powership — a floating power plant — to generate electricity using liquefied natural gas (LNG) instead of traditional heavy fuel oil.

The flexibility of this system allows for rapid deployment and reliable energy delivery, especially in regions lacking gas infrastructure, helping to bridge Africa’s persistent electricity gap with cleaner energy.

Mozambique was among the first countries to benefit from this technology. A Powership stationed in Nacala Bay, originally fueled by oil and supplying up to 15% of the national grid, was converted to LNG in partnership with Electricidade de Moçambique (EdM).

This shift not only improved efficiency but also significantly reduced emissions and fuel costs. The deployment included the arrival of a converted FSRU that regasifies imported LNG onboard and feeds it directly into the Powership, now delivering around 120 megawatts of gas-powered electricity.

Following Mozambique, Senegal became the next key site for Karpowership’s LNG-to-power rollout. In 2021, the FSRU “KARMOL LNGT AFRICA” arrived in Dakar to support the Karadeniz Powership Ayşegül Sultan, already operational and supplying about 15–20% of Senegal’s electricity.

The transition to LNG in Senegal aligned with the country's energy diversification goals, cutting reliance on imported oil and reducing environmental impact. This model has proven scalable and adaptable, making it attractive for replication across other African nations.

Building on these successes, Karpowership announced a $1 billion LNG-to-power investment in 2024 to support the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). The planned 500 MW facility in Mozambique is expected to serve not only the host country but also millions of people across the region, including in South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.

This large-scale initiative demonstrates the growing role of floating LNG power solutions in shaping Africa’s energy future — offering rapid, flexible, and lower-carbon alternatives to traditional infrastructure-heavy power projects.