Qatargas commissions Thailand’s first LNG receiving terminal

Qatargas has delivered its first ever cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Thailand. The cargo was delivered to the Map Ta Phut LNG Terminal by the conventional LNG carrier “Golar Viking”.

Qatargas Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani said: “This is a significant milestone for Qatargas, Public Company Limited (PTT) and Thailand. Qatargas is honored to be the first supplier of LNG to Thailand and this demonstrates Qatargas’ capability to supply LNG to customers around the globe safely and reliably.”

He added: “Qatari LNG continues to have a key role to play in helping governments around the world improve the diversity of their energy supplies. We are pleased with this development which will help to meet the growing demand for energy in the Kingdom of Thailand”, said a release.

Golar Viking began her voyage from Ras Laffan Port on May 17 with approximately 131,000 cubic meters of LNG on-board and safely discharged the cargo at Map Ta Phut LNG terminal, marking the first delivery of LNG from Qatar to Thailand.

The Qatargas CEO said “this delivery will further strengthen the relationship between both companies over the long-term. The commissioning of the Map Ta Phut LNG terminal in Thailand marks the second terminal in less than two weeks, where Qatargas has provided commissioning cargos for a new terminal in the Asia Pacific market place. We feel that Qatargas is at the forefront of opening up new markets and guaranteeing the safe, long-term reliable supply of clean energy.”

Wichai Pornkeratiwat, Senior Executive Vice President, Gas Business Unit of PTT, said: “We are very grateful to have Qatargas deliver the first LNG cargo to Map Ta Phut terminal, Thailand, which can be considered as the first LNG Receiving Terminal in South-East Asia. The success of commissioning of Map Ta Phut LNG Receiving Terminal is a significant milestone that will lead us to the successful commencement of terminal operations in July 2011.

He also added: “LNG is one of the strategic sources of supplies to fulfill the domestic gas demand growth and to help Thailand building energy security in the long term.” The LNG delivered to Thailand was done under the agreement between Qatargas and PTT Public Company Limited to deliver two commissioning cargoes for the start-up of the new LNG terminal at Map Ta Phut, Thailand.