Five contractors compete for first FEED contract of Argentina’s $50 billion FLNG project

As the global energy landscape continues to evolve and natural gas demand rises, Argentina is fast-tracking its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export strategy. In a major development, Shell and Argentina’s state-owned oil and gas company YPF are jointly advancing a massive FLNG (Floating Liquefied Natural Gas) initiative valued at USD 50 billion. This landmark project aims to turn Argentina into a major LNG exporter by leveraging its vast shale gas reserves.

According to industry sources, at least five international contractors are competing for the first Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) contract, expected to be tendered in August 2025. The FEED phase will last approximately 10 months, concluding around mid-2026, after which the project will move into the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) stage.

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Leading Contractors in the Race

So far, the known contenders include:

• Samsung Heavy Industries (South Korea)
• Wison Clean Energy (China)
• Technip Energies (France) & JGC Corporation (Japan) – joint bid

This high-profile bidding war reflects the increasing global interest in floating LNG technology, and particularly highlights the growing presence of Chinese contractors in high-end offshore engineering.

Wison Clean Energy has been gaining traction in the global FLNG and modular LNG plant market, and a successful bid would further boost its international reputation for technical excellence and project execution capabilities.

Korea’s Strategic Positioning

Korean shipbuilders, including Samsung Heavy Industries, have been highly proactive in LNG-related segments such as LNG carriers, FLNG units, and FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading units). South Korea has also aligned itself with U.S. trade policies aimed at curbing China’s influence in global shipbuilding by supporting tariffs on Chinese vessels. This has helped Korean yards secure more orders and strengthen their position through localized investments in the U.S. market.

A Global Milestone in Offshore LNG

Although the full list of FEED bidders has not been officially disclosed, this tender is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched battles in the global FLNG market. The project’s scale, combined with its strategic importance for South American energy exports, makes it a major focus for the offshore energy community.

FLNG project

Haihao Group: Supporting the Global Offshore and Shipbuilding Market

At Haihao Group, we closely follow major developments in the global shipbuilding and offshore energy sectors. With internationally recognized certifications from ABS, DNV, BV, RINA, RS, we proudly supply marine piping systems for large-scale ship and offshore facility construction projects around the world.

Our extensive experience in pipe fittings, elbows, flanges, and special alloy components makes us a trusted partner for high-performance and corrosive service applications—particularly in demanding environments like offshore LNG and oil & gas.

Stay tuned as we continue to support the world’s most ambitious marine and energy infrastructure projects with quality-certified, NACE-compliant piping solutions.