China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co Ltd – a key player in the nation's energy sector – recently handed over the first of its kind liquefied natural gas or LNG conversation project to the island nation of Cyprus in the Mediterranean.

The Galea, a modified floating storage and regasification unit – or FSRU – was delivered at Shanghai COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Co Ltd's No 2 pier in the Chongming district of East China's Shanghai on Jan 16.

Originally a liquefied natural gas carrier, or LNGC, the Galea represents China's first domestic MOSS spherical tank-type LNGC conversion into an FSRU.

An image is shown of the FSRU after the completion of modifications. [Photo/eastday.com]

This milestone is part of a collaboration between Chinese enterprises and the European Union in the Belt and Road initiative.

The project is associated with the Natural Gas Infrastructure Company (ETYFA) based in Cyprus – a member of the EU – and supports that country's ambitious liquefied natural gas import, storage and regasification facility in Vasilikos Bay.

Named the Prometheus – previously known as Galea – after the mythological figure symbolizing fire and hope, the FSRU boasts advanced facilities and dimensions of 296 meters in length and 46 meters in width, with a storage capacity of 137,000 cubic meters of LNG.

This initiative is seen as being a crucial component of Cyprus' national energy strategy, aligning with EU emissions reduction goals and promoting natural gas power generation.

The project aims to achieve a 30 percent reduction in carbon emissions and a 15-25 percent decrease in electricity generation costs, marking it as Cyprus' most significant engineering endeavor in recent years.