Crabbs LNG Plant Completed but Commissioning Delayed by Harbour Dredging
Antigua’s new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant at Crabbs is complete but remains idle as the government awaits the completion of critical harbour dredging works, Utilities Minister Melford Nicholas has confirmed.
The project, which is already over a year and a half behind schedule, cannot be commissioned until dredging in Parham Sound reaches the required depth to accommodate large LNG tankers. The dredging is expected to be completed within the next three and a half months.
“The plant is completed, but it hasn’t been able to be commissioned,” Nicholas said. “The dredging of the harbour has been our Achilles’ heel.”
In the meantime, the facility has operated briefly on diesel fuel, but the Minister warned that doing so dramatically increases operational costs—adding as much as $2 million per month to energy expenses.
To address the delay, two dredging teams—Blue Ocean and Dutch Dredging—are currently working to deepen the harbour to approximately eight metres, allowing for the safe docking of LNG vessels. Nicholas said this is a crucial step to bring the plant fully online and begin supplying cleaner, more affordable fuel to the national grid.
The LNG facility is part of the government’s broader energy strategy, aimed at reducing dependence on heavy fuel oils and lowering overall electricity generation costs. Once operational, it is expected to provide a more efficient and environmentally friendly energy source while supporting Antigua and Barbuda’s transition toward a more sustainable energy future.
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