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Thirty-nine global firms are willing to supply spot LNG to Bangladesh as the government plans spot purchase of the new fuel from the international market, officials said.
The firms from the US, the UK, Australia, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, Bermuda and Malaysia and their consortia submitted bids for exporting lean LNG (liquefied natural gas) to Bangladesh.
Managing director of the state-owned Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Co Ltd (RPGCL) Md. Quamruzzaman disclosed Monday the development in LNG-import process.
Fifteen of the bidders are from Singapore, three from Japan, two each from the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, Hong Kong, and Bermuda and one each from Italy, South Korea, India, Australia, Spain, Switzerland, Malaysia and Bangladesh.
The Singpore-based firms that submitted express of interests (EoIs) independently are BB Energy (Asia) Pte Ltd, EDF Trading Singapore Pte Ltd, Statoil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Gazpram Marketing & Trading, Singapore Post Ishak, Gail Global (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Cheniere Marketing International LLP, GAS Natural Fenosa LNC Singapore Pte Ltd, Diamond Gas International Pte Ltd, Trafigura Pte Ltd, Gunvor Singapore Pte Ltd, Pavilion Gas Pte Ltd, Vitol Asia Pte. Ltd, and Itochu Corporation.
The three Japanese companies that submitted EoIs are Jera Co. Inc, Marubeni, Mitsui & Co Ltd, and Osaka Gas Co. Ltd.
Other EoI-submitting companies include Chevron USA Inc. and Excelerate Energy Ltd Partnership from the US, Carillion Ambs Ltd (Centrica) and Engie Global LNG UK Ltd from the UK Statoil ASA and Hemla Energy AS of Norway , Nobel Group Ltd and CNOOC Gas and Power Trading & Marketing of Hong Kong, Golar LNG Ltd and Shell (International) Trading Middle East Ltd (SITME) of Bermuda, Star Infrastructure Development Consortium Ltd of Bangladesh, and Eni of Italy, AOT Trading AG of Switzerland, Iberrdrol LNG organization of Spain, Posco Daewoo Corp. of South Korea, Woodside Petroleum Ltd of Australia, Global LNG SDN BHD of Malaysia, Indian Oil Corp. Ltd of India.
Three separate JVs - Japan's Toyota Tsusho Corporation and India's Adani Ports, Anglo-Dutch Total and UK's Premier LP Gas Ltd - also submitted bids.
Local Summit Corp. Ltd & Summit Oil & Shipping Co. Ltd also took part in the bidding.
"We shall complete evaluation of the EoIs within one month to shortlist potential LNG suppliers on the basis of their trading experience and their ability to deliver the right cargo as per specifications to both onshore and offshore terminals on spot basis," Mr Quamruzzaman told the FE.
Shortlisted participants and RPGCL will sign sales and purchase agreements governing the spot LNG supply with a validity of at least five years, he said.
The imported LNG is to be blended with locally produced gas - sulfur-free sweet gas - for delivering the energy mix to the end-users so the LNG's sulfur content should be low.
The LNG should be supplied on a delivered ex-ship basis and the vessel size should range between 125,000 cu m and 220,000 cubic metres.
Bangladesh will not restrict the number of shortlisted applicants, the company MD said.
"We will procure spot LNG based on market prices, terminal availability, increased re-gasification capacity and downstream demand," he added.
RPGCL, a wholly owned subsidiary company of the state-owned Petrobangla, is in charge of the country's LNG purchases meant for meeting a growing fuel demand that outstrips the natural gas output in the country.