Equinor has awarded Aibel an NOK 8 billion contract for Hammerfest LNG modifications as part of the NOK 13.2 billion pledged by Snøhvit Future to be invested into the plant for continued operations and CO2 reductions, Equinor said in a press release on Feb. 14. 

As part of the engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) contract, Aibel will build two new processing modules for the onshore compression and electrification of Hammerfest LNG’s Melkøya plant, as well as a station to receive power from shore. 

In December, Equinor and Snøhvit partners submitted the Snøhvit Future plans for development and operations at Hammerfest LNG to Norway’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy. The EPCI contract awarded to Aibel is also part of the partnership’s plans to cut the plant’s emissions by 850,000 tonnes annually, in line with Norway’s goal to reduce emissions by 55% by 2050. 

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Hammerfest LNG is Europe’s first LNG plant and is responsible for 5% of all Norwegian gas exports, delivering 6.5 billion cubic meters per year to more than six million households. The onshore compression and conversion to electric operation of Melkøya is expected in 2028. 

Aibel’s upgrades and modifications of systems at Hammerfest LNG are for the plant’s longevity until 2050. Several contracts will be awarded to subcontractors throughout phases of the project, including construction. 

"Aibel has been one of our main suppliers for Hammerfest LNG since the start-up in 2007,” said Mette H. Ottøy, Equinor's chief procurement officer. “They know the plant well, have set up a local department in Hammerfest and have solid experience from other major modification projects on plants while on stream…This contract will have major ripple effects locally, regionally and nationally.”