ECOnnect Energy (a Norwegian technology provider and engineering firm) has signed a contract with New Providence Gas Ltd (an energy infrastructure joint venture) to deliver a floating LNG import terminal to the Bahamas, marking the Norwegian company's second major contract of 2026 and extending its commercial reach further into the Caribbean.

The Agreement and Its Partners

New Providence Gas Ltd., the entity named in the contract, is a joint venture between Shell Bahamas Power Company Inc. and Sun Oil Holdings Ltd., which operates as a subsidiary of Focol Holdings Ltd. ECOnnect Energy will supply its IQuay C-Class floating LNG import terminal system under the agreement, with the unit already named La Santa Maria.

The project was marked by a groundbreaking ceremony attended by representatives from all parties involved, including Tom Summers, Shell Executive Vice President, Dexter Adderly, CEO and President of Focol, and ECOnnect CEO Morten Christophersen, among other project leadership figures from Shell, Focol, and Turner.

The Technology Being Deployed

The IQuay C-Class system is described by ECOnnect as a floating offshore transfer system that connects LNG carriers directly to onshore storage, as opposed to a conventional LNG import terminal that would require fixed jetties and extensive coastal construction.

The company says this approach significantly reduces marine construction work and limits disturbance to coastal environments, while enabling faster deployment in what it characterises as sensitive island settings.

The platform is designed to be deployed with a minimal on-site footprint and is built to be adapted over time as energy needs change. ECOnnect states that the system functions as a complete floating terminal, requiring less permanent infrastructure than traditional import solutions.

La Santa Maria is currently in Norway and is scheduled to depart this autumn, with first LNG deliveries expected during the coming winter season. The terminal is expected to be operational by the end of 2026.

Addressing Energy Costs and Fuel Dependency in the Bahamas

The project's stated purpose centres on the Bahamas' longstanding dependence on imported diesel and fuel oil for electricity generation. ECOnnect notes that this reliance has resulted in high and volatile power prices for households and businesses across the island nation, with energy costs tied closely to fluctuating global oil prices.

By enabling the import of LNG, the terminal is intended to provide a more stable and efficient fuel source for power generation on New Providence, the island that serves as home to Nassau and the country's largest population centre. ECOnnect says the shift is expected to support lower emissions and improve long-term energy affordability for island communities.

Morten Christophersen, CEO of ECOnnect Energy, described the project in terms of energy access and poverty reduction. "This is about enabling access to better energy solutions where they are needed most.

With this project, we are helping secure energy supply while reducing energy poverty and local pollution. For island nations like in the Bahamas, flexibility and reliability is critical. We are proud to be working alongside our partners in Focol and Shell on this fast-track energy project," he said.

Second Major Contract of 2026 Following Colombia Deal

ECOnnect characterises the Bahamas agreement as its second major contract signing of 2026. The first came in June 2026, when the company announced an EPC agreement with Puerto Bahía to deliver an IQuay F-Class jettyless LNG transfer system for a fast-tracked import terminal in Cartagena Bay, Colombia.

That project was described as responding to Colombia's declining domestic gas production and increasing reliance on flexible import solutions to manage seasonal hydropower variability.

Together, the two deals span different geographies and vessel classes within ECOnnect's IQuay product line, with the Colombian project using the F-Class variant and the Bahamas project using the C-Class. The company states it has delivered and operational systems across Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Competitive Advantages Cited for Island and Coastal Deployments

ECOnnect points to several characteristics of the IQuay C-Class that it says make the technology well-suited to island and coastal environments. The reduction in fixed marine infrastructure means less coastal construction is required, which the company says limits environmental disturbance in settings where coastal ecosystems and limited land area present challenges for conventional terminal development.

The floating nature of the system also contributes to faster deployment timelines relative to traditional import terminals, a factor the company frames as critical for energy projects that need to be brought online quickly to address immediate supply needs. The system's stated adaptability also means it can be reconfigured as local energy demand changes over time.

Clinton Rolle, Chief Operating Officer of Focol, and Louis Stone, Shell Project Director, were among the project partners present at the groundbreaking ceremony, along with Janine Toner, LNG Business Development Manager at Shell, and Stephen M. Toups, CEO of Turner.

ECOnnect Energy is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and describes its focus as the delivery of floating and energy-efficient terminal solutions across LNG, hydrogen, carbon capture, ammonia, and bio-LNG markets globally.

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