International: Singapore's LNG terminal starts operation

By Romel S. Gurky

Singapore?s energy sector marks a significant milestone on Tuesday, as its LNG terminal receives its first commercial cargo and commences commercial operations.

The LNG Terminal is operated by Singapore LNG Corporation Pte Ltd (SLNG).

SLNG said in a statement on Tuesday that the decision to build the terminal on Jurong Island was made in 2006. Construction of the S$1.7b terminal began in 2010, and the first two tanks with regasification facilities are now completed on schedule and within budget.

The LNG terminal will have an initial throughput capacity of 3.5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) with two tanks.

This capacity will increase to 6 Mtpa by the end of 2013 when the third tank, additional jetties and regasification facilities are completed.

Plans were announced in October 2012 for a fourth tank and associated regasification facilities to be added to the terminal, to raise its throughput capacity to 9 Mtpa.

The LNG cargo was delivered by BG Group, which was awarded an LNG importer?s license to import and sell up to 3 Mtpa of LNG. So far, BG has sold about 2.7 Mtpa of LNG.

Editing by Dadan Wijaksana