(Ecofin Agency) - South Africa is planning to inaugurate a tender for its first Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) import terminal by H1 of 2016, the head of the Department of Energy's IPP office Karen Breytenbach (photo) revealed.

According to Breytenbach the aim is to start importation of LNG by 2018/19. She noted that the government in its plans, anticipates to inaugurate a request for pre-qualifications for a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) in Q1 of 2016, and afterwards a request for proposals in Q2, then the granting of award by the end of 2016.

"The decision has been taken to do gas to power and because we don't have indigenous gas we are relying on LNG," she told Reuters.

South Africa’s plan to import LNG is part of efforts to diversify its energy sources away from coal and relieve power shortages that have restrained growth.