Angola's liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility has been shut down till late-August for planned testing and maintenance works before moving toward full export capacity once it is back in operation by September.

This recently renovated plant reopened in early June after it was shut down in April 2014, 10 months after it sent its first cargo of LNG due to a major break on a flare line.

From that time, it has exported only four cargoes, while traders had expected six to nine shipments before the planned shut down for final phase of tests, Reuters reports.

The LNG plant, which is situated in Soyo, is a single-train facility with the capacity to produce 5.2 million tonnes annually as well as a committed fleet of seven LNG tankers.

Angola LNG is a joint venture between state oil company, Sonangol, Chevron, BP, Eni and Total with 22.8%, 36.4%, 13.6%, 13.6%, 13.6% interests respectively.

Anita Fatunji