Petronas and Sumitomo collaborate to supply LNG bunker

By ANIS FARHANAH MALEK
anisfarhanah@dagangnews.com

KUALA LUMPUR 11 Feb. - Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas), under its wholly owned subsidiary Petronas Trading Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (PETCO) and Sumitomo Corporation (Sumitomo) to jointly market and supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker and related services through the Petronas Marine brand in both Malaysia and Tokyo Bay, Japan.

Both companies have signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) that serves to build industrial platforms and end-to-end supply chains to offer more environmentally friendly and cost-efficient LNG for use as a marine fuel and reduce the GHG emissions attributable to maritime transport.

PETCO Chief Executive Officer, Shamsul Bahari Salleh said, as a progressive energy and solutions partner, they are continuously looking to co-create a sustainable market environment with industry players. 

“We recognise our role in delivering the next generation fuel to cater for the bunker demand in the maritime industry. 

“We are pleased to be collaborating with Sumitomo and hope to collaborate with other players in the LNG bunkering business in Japan in meeting our customers’ emerging needs,” said him in a joint statement. 

Read : Petronas-JERA to produce ammonia and hydrogen for power

As LNG continues to play a key role as the next generation fuel to cater for the bunker fuel demand in the maritime industry, both companies are committed in promoting this solution to the market by having the right infrastructures in place, ensuring availability of supply and through continuous advocacy to users. 

Meantime, Department General Manager of Sumitomo, Shu Nakamura said, with the agreement, they will pursue their ambition to build a comprehensive network of LNG bunkering. 

“It also underscores our commitment to offer our customers the best available and technologically proven solution to significantly reduce the environmental footprint of maritime transport.

“We are very proud and confident that the cooperation between Petronas and Sumitomo paving the way towards the development of LNG as a cleaner marine fuel in both Malaysia and Tokyo Bay which are strategically important marine hubs to both parties,” Nakamura further explained. 

In November 2020, Petronas successfully delivered its first Ship-to-Ship LNG bunkering transfer at the port of Pasir Gudang, Johor from the 7,500 cubic meter MV Avenir Advantage, Petronas’ first LNG Bunkering Vessel (LBV) under the Petronas Marine brand to promote the use of LNG as a cleaner marine fuel. 

Sumitomo has also ordered an LNG bunkering vessel through a joint venture, Ecobunker Shipping Co., Ltd, which is on track to commence LNG bunker service in Tokyo Bay in 2021. - DagangNews.com