Gas-rich Argentina is back to importing natural gas from two ports with the startup of Excelerate Energy LP’s Exemplar floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) at Bahía Blanca.

The new liquefied natural gas (LNG) import option adds to the existing Excelerate FSRU now stationed at Escobar, also in Buenos Aires province.

The Exemplar FSRU has storage capacity of 150,900 cubic meters and has been leased for the 2021 winter season in Argentina. It is seen as providing “reliability and stability to the country’s energy system,” CEO Steven Kobos told NGI. He said the contract could extend until September.

“We are expecting a cold winter and high demand,” Kobos said. “We have run the calculations, and I understand the savings in terms of not using liquid fuels...