Golar LNG has begun discussions with partners Keppel and Black & Veatch for a third GoFLNG unit similar to the Hilli and the Gimi, Golar said in a news release, noting the company is exercising an option as part of an existing framework agreement.

Hopes are to start up the third vessel in 2018, according to the release. The date falls between the targeted onstream dates of 2017 and 2019 for the first two units, destined respectively for offshore Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

Golar said it intends to pursue the third GoFLNG vessel on a similar contractual basis as the second vessel, preserving flexibility on design and delivery schedule, and including cancellation provisions.