The LNG industry should pass a milestone this year when the world's first floating LNG (FLNG) facility comes on stream, in a move that will enable gas producers to monetize remote, stranded fields that would have been uneconomic to develop with a land-based plant. But whether the as-yet untested technology evolves as a relatively niche solution for small fields or becomes a mainstream game-changer - superseding traditional land-based plants - will hinge on performance, given concerns about safety and operational issues, as well as capital and operating costs, particularly in the current low-price environment. Domestic politics will be another crucial factor, with many governments anxious to reap the benefits that LNG onshore projects bring in terms of creating jobs and economic growth.
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