Doha: Qatargas has announced a long-term Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with PetroChina International Company Limited, a unit of PetroChina Company Limited (PetroChina), to supply China with around 3.4 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per annum.
Under the 22-year SPA, which ends in 2040, Qatargas will supply LNG from the Qatargas 2 project, a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum, ExxonMobil and Total, to different receiving terminals across China, with the first cargo to be delivered to the Peoples Republic of China later this month.
Commenting on this landmark agreement, President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum and Chairman of the Qatargas Board of Directors Eng. Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi said that the agreement underscores Qatars trusted capability in ensuring energy security to countries around the world, particularly in Asia.
Al Kaabi added that the agreement also highlights Qatar's unique position as the worlds largest LNG producer, supplying safely and reliably across the globe, expressing pleasure to be of support to the Peoples Republic of China in its quest to secure LNG supplies to meet the countrys growing energy requirements.
"As we announce this long-term SPA, we look forward to continuing to supply reliable and clean energy to China and to countries all over the world that seek to use the cleanest fossil fuel available to meet their energy needs," Al Kaabi said.
For his part, HE Qatargas Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Khalid Bin Khalifa Al-Thani said that the agreement is an important milestone for Qatargas, expressing pleasure that LNG from Qatargas continues to contribute towards meeting the huge demand for energy in the worlds second largest economy.
He noted that with China expected to become one of the worlds largest gas markets, this SPA will further strengthen the existing relationship between Qatargas and PetroChina over the long-term.
The SPA allows flexibility in delivering LNG to various receiving terminals across China, including the Dalian, Jiangsu, Tangshan and Shenzhen LNG receiving terminals, utilising Qatargas fleet of 70 conventional, Q-Flex and Q-Max LNG vessels.
Qatargas is the worlds largest LNG producing company with an annual production capacity of 77 million tonnes.
PetroChina is Chinas largest gas supplier, supplying 66% of Chinas domestic demand in 2017. It is anticipated that the Peoples Republic of China will become one of the worlds largest gas markets.
Chinese gas consumption grew by 15% in 2017 alone, with LNG imports growing by more than 40%. (QNA)
