Antigua and Barbuda is making strides towards having its first fully operational liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel terminal, which could revolutionize the country’s energy sector.

Recently, four 1000 cubic meter LNG storage tanks arrived on the island to aid in the building of an LNG fuel terminal by Caribbean LNG Ltd, a partnership between Antigua Power Company and Eagle LNG.

Each of the storage tanks will be transported to the Crabbs power plant separately in the next few days, followed by a ceremony at the facility next week.

Melford Nicholas, the Minister responsible for APUA overseeing the project, welcomes the arrival of the equipment, seeing it bringing the country closer to energy diversification and reduced carbon emissions.

The country’s carbon footprint may be reduced even further with this new fuel source, as it has the potential to replace the heavy fuel oil currently used as the generator’s main fuel source for supplying electricity throughout the country.

LNG is natural gas that has been transformed into a non-pressurized liquid form by chilling it, making it safe, cost-effective, and easy to store and transport. It is eco-friendly, as it is odourless, non-toxic, and colourless.

Eagle LNG’s Business Development Director, Kevin Frantz, provides a technical breakdown of LNG and its value to the energy sector, stating that “this is enough storage to run a power plant for 10 days, and these are cryogenically based LNG tanks.” Calid Hassan, Director at Caribbean LNG, expresses his hope to have the facility fully operational in December, stating that workers have and are undergoing training to operate the facility safely and efficiently.

The facility is anticipated to provide new job opportunities and economic activity. The recent events indicate America’s commitment to the Caribbean, according to US Embassy’s Tabitha Snowbarger.

She explains how the US-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030 (PACC 2030) is the US government’s primary mechanism for regional climate adaptation and resilience and energy cooperation through 2030, working towards meeting the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).