Golar LNG refinances Gimi FLNG vessel

Golar LNG's $1.2 billion sale leaseback refinancing of the Gimi FLNG vessel with a consortium of Chinese lenders marks a significant financial restructuring for the project. This financing replaces the existing debt facility and secures long-term funding for the Gimi FLNG, which is a crucial component of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project offshore Senegal and Mauritania. The involvement of major international lenders like Standard Chartered, DNB, Goldman Sachs, Citibank, and ABN AMRO alongside Chinese lenders underscores the global interest in and financial backing for this large-scale LNG project. The deal structure, a sale leaseback, allows Golar LNG to free up capital while retaining operational control of the FLNG vessel. The refinancing demonstrates continued investor confidence in the GTA project and the long-term viability of floating LNG technology. The participation of Golar Power (formerly a joint venture between Golar LNG and Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners) as an investor further highlights the strategic importance of integrated LNG-to-power solutions. This transaction is likely to have positive implications for the GTA project's timeline and overall financial stability, ensuring the continued development and operation of this key energy infrastructure asset in West Africa.