Vietnam receives first LNG cargo in bid to develop new power supply

STATE-OWNED PetroVietnam Gas said on Monday (Jul 10) it has received a cargo of 70,000 tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Singapore-based Shell Eastern Trading, marking Vietnam’s first LNG import.

The South-east Asian manufacturing hub plans to build 15 LNG-fired power plants by 2035 with a combined capacity of 22.4 gigawatts, accounting for nearly 15 per cent of the country’s total power generation mix, from zero now.

The relatively small cargo, which departed from Indonesia’s Bontang Port, is aimed at test-running PetroVietnam Gas’ Thi Vai LNG terminal in the south of the country, the company said.

The terminal is expected to supply gas to industrial clients and two nearby power plants being developed by state-owned Pietrovietnam Power, with the first set to be operational at the end of next year, according to the developer. REUTERS