Total signs on for Benin LNG

The French major has teamed up with local partners for an FSRU project, although history suggests challenges could remain

Total inked gas supply and host government agreements with the Beninois state and power utility SBEE in July to develop a floating LNG import terminal and supply Benin with 0.5mn t/yr of LNG from 2021. But experience of west African LNG projects suggests that this timescale should not be taken as guaranteed. The imports will supply plants in Benin, such as a new 127MW power station at Maria Gleta, close to Cotonou, the country's commercial centre, says Dona Jean-Claude Houssou, Benin's energy minister, adding, perhaps optimistically, that the supply will be "on preferential terms". A consortium led by Total was given the rights to develop a 3bn t/yr import terminal in Cote d'Ivoire as long a