US Ambassador Michael Kozak completed a comprehensive tour of the Caribbean LNG Inc. facility, praising the groundbreaking project as a testament to successful collaboration between American investors, local enterprise, and the government of Antigua and Barbuda.

“It’s a fantastic project,” Ambassador Kozak stated following his walkthrough of the facility. “This shows what can be done when you get sound American investors working with local private enterprise and with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. It all came together very, very well.”

The Caribbean LNG Inc. terminal, developed through a partnership between Eagle LNG and Antigua Power Company Ltd. (APCL), represents a $50 million American investment in the region’s energy infrastructure. The tour was guided by General Manager of Antigua Power Company Ltd – Calid Hassad, Nicholas Saoud, Project Engineer, and other members of the management team of APCL.

Chairman of Antigua Power Company Francis Hadeed highlighted the significant progress made, noting that “the relationship, the partnership with the American firm with LNG has been a success story.” Hadeed emphasized that the facility positions Antigua and Barbuda to “become an LNG hub to export this product throughout the whole region, and there’s none like it in the Caribbean.”

The facility delivers significant environmental benefits with 40% lower CO2 emissions, 90% lower particulate matter, 75% lower NOx emissions, and 99% lower SO2 emissions compared to traditional heavy fuel oil. Minister of Energy and Public Utilities Melford Nicholas noted these environmental benefits during the facility tour, stating that the facility supports Antigua and Barbuda’s transition toward renewable energy and compliance with the Paris Agreement 2050 goals.

Ambassador Kozak emphasized the continued commitment of the US government to the project and regional partnerships. “The American government has been very helpful. They call us on a monthly basis. They send people here, they have a keen interest in it,” noted Chairman Hadeed regarding ongoing US support.

The facility is positioned to serve the growing marine bunkering market as the International Maritime Organization mandates cleaner marine fuels. Minister Nicholas noted that “this plant is positioned to become a major refueling stop for ships as they travel across the area,” including cruise ships and cargo vessels transitioning to LNG fuel.

The terminal positions Antigua and Barbuda as a unique LNG distribution hub for the Caribbean region. Unlike larger facilities in Trinidad that focus on major shipments, the Caribbean LNG facility can handle smaller parcels through ISO tankers carrying 10,000 gallons, making it accessible to smaller island nations throughout the region.

“The potential is huge for Antigua and Barbuda because Antigua and Barbuda can become an LNG hub to export this product throughout the whole region, and there’s none like it in the Caribbean,” explained Chairman Francis Hadeed during the Ambassador’s visit. “Trinidad has a huge facility, but they cannot do small parcels, and they cannot do ISO tankers that carry 10,000 gallons.”

The facility features state-of-the-art vaporization technology that converts liquid natural gas into gaseous form for immediate use in power generation. Project Engineer Nicholas Saoud guided the Ambassador through the technical systems, which include:

 Advanced control room with comprehensive CCTV monitoring and automated systems

 Pneumatic valve systems for precise flow control and pressure regulation

 Redundant safety systems with multiple backup pumps (three pumps with only one required for operation)

 800-meter pipeline connecting to APC’s 45MW power plant

 LNG storage tanks with 10,000 m³ capacity

 Capacity for both large-scale distribution and small-parcel exports via ISO tankers

 Compliance with NFPA 59A and ASME B31.3 standards

 Advanced safety features including flame and gas detection systems and fire hydrants

The facility is operationally complete, with final harbour dredging work expected to conclude by August-September 2025. Minister Nicholas confirmed that the government is “significantly pushing right now to push for the completion of the dredging that will allow us to be able to benefit from the reduced cost of the fuel.” Once completed, the deeper channel will accommodate LNG vessels, enabling full-scale operations and regional distribution capabilities.