Angola LNG Project's start of operation postponed

LNG ,  Luanda – The start of operation of the Liquefied Natural Gas (Angola LNG) Project earlier on set for the first quarter of this year has been postponed until May 2012, Angop learned Friday in Luanda. The information was released by the State-run Angola Oil Company (Sonangol)’s executive director, Mateus de Brito. Speaking at a press conference called to mark the 36th anniversary of Sonangol, Mateus de Brito, said the date has been postponed due to pending tests on the project. In 2011, the Oil minister, José Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos, announced that the project’s schedules and works on the natural gas processing plant were complete by 62 percent. The Angola LNG Project is intended to develop natural gas for export and domestic industry, thus avoiding the burn that occurs on the oil rigs. The northern Zaire province-based Angola LNG Project follows a partnership among the BP Exploration (13,6 percent), Chevron (36,4), ExxonMobil (13,6), Sonangol (22,8) and Total (13,6). The project will process 5.2 million tonnes of natural liquefied gas per year.