Vietnam's second LNG terminal seeks cargo to begin commissioning tests
Updates with comment from AG&P LNG, background
By Emily Chow and Khanh Vu
SINGAPORE/HANOI, Aug 23 (Reuters) -Vietnam's Cai Mep liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal is seeking a cargo to initiate commissioning tests, two industry sources said, putting it on track to become the country's second terminal to bring in the fuel.
As it seeks to reduce reliance on coal, Vietnam has ambitious plans to build up LNG import terminals and a fleet of 13 LNG-fired power plants that could account for 15% of the country's total installed power generation capacity by 2030. Sources and analysts, however, say the target is at risk of being missed.
The Cai Mep import terminal is operated by Cai Mep LNG, a joint venture between Singapore-based Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific LNG (AG&P LNG) and Vietnamese petroleum trader Hai Linh Company.
Hai Linh Company Ltd was awarded an import licence, said two other sources and according to a copy of the licence issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade dated Aug. 1 and reviewed by Reuters.
Two of the four sources that spoke to Reuters said the cargo sought to commission the Cai Mep terminal will be for delivery in October.
The sources could not be named because they were not authorised to speak publicly.
"Given we have just received the import licence, we are now working on accelerating the commissioning and target to complete (it) in the next three months," said AG&P LNG CEO Karthik Sathyamoorthy.
"We will look to lock the commissioning cargo in October for end-October to mid-November delivery."
Hai Linh Company and Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade did not respond to a request for comment.
The Cai Mep LNG terminal is located in Vietnam's southern Ba Ria Vung Tau province, and has the capacity to import 3 million metric tons of LNG a year.
AG&P LNG had last said in May that the terminal was on track to begin commercial operations in September.
Vietnam has so far imported over 300,000 tons of LNG on a spot basis via its first LNG import terminal, the Thi Vai terminal by PetroVietnam Gas.
The cargoes were shipped in mostly to fuel existing gas-fired power plants to meet surging power demand during heatwaves earlier this year.
Reporting by Emily Chow in Singapore and Khanh Vu in Hanoi; editing by Barbara Lewis and Michael Perry
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.