Singapore eyeing LNG from Bontang

Singapore has expressed interest in buying liquefied natural gas (LNG) from of the Bontang LNG plant in East Kalimantan, an officer of upstream oil, gas regulator BPMIGAS said on Thursday.

Deputy chairman Budi Indianto said that the excess LNG output of Bontang for next year is 20 cargoes not 68 cargoes as earlier mentioned by BPMIGAS? vice chairman Hardiono.

?We may sell LNG to supply Singapore?s receiving terminal, but we want to be sure when Singapore will complete its construction,? he said.

Singapore started construction of the country?s first LNG terminal in end of March and expects to begin operations in 2013. The LNG terminal on Jurong Island will have an initial capacity of 3.5 million tons per annum (Mtpa) and can be expanded to 6 Mtpa or more.

In earlier statement, Budi said that BPMIGAS will have between 24 and 26 cargoes of LNG that could be sold on the international market. He said that for selling at the spot market, they have to do some road shows to potential buyers, particularly countries that have had receiving terminals, like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China. (bernard)