Asia/Pacific News
Kogas to Invest $9 Million in Tongyeong to Support LNG Ship to Ship Bunkering
Korea Gas Corporation (Kogas) intends to invest $9 million to support ship to ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering infrastructure in Tongyeong, South Korea, including the construction of loading arms and a quay by 2019, Platts reports.
"We need infrastructure for ship to ship LNG bunkering to cope with increasing future demand for LNG as a marine fuel," a company official told Platts Friday, noting that vessels can currently only be bunkered with LNG by truck in South Korea.
The official further explained that the new facility will make it "possible to bunker LNG directly to small LNG fuelled ships that are less than 100 metres and can anchor at the quay."
Kogas is reported to have submitted comments on draft revisions regulations related to LNG bunkering, which are expected to be finalised by 2017.
"Although other entities are not engaged in this [bunkering infrastructure at Tongyeong] project, we are expecting other companies to join us in the area such as bunker barges," said the official.
This latest project is part of a larger push in South Korea toward the development of LNG bunkering in the country.
In August, Ship & Bunker reported that Kogas was among 14 industry players to sign a cooperation agreement with the Ulsan Port Authority (UPA), which is intended to support the Ulsan's efforts to become South Korea's first LNG bunkering port.
