Singapore’s investment in liquefied natural gas as a marine fuel has reached $19 million as it continues its strategy of becoming the largest LNG bunkering hub.
Speaking to Reuters during a conference, Alan Lim , deputy director at the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, said the development of LNG bunkering since late 2015.
The majority of investment was directed towards building the LNG-fueled tugboats.
In his speech at the conference, senior minister of state for transport and health, Lam Pin Min , said the authority has “made has made good progress on LNG bunkering in Singapore over the last few years. To kick-start the use of LNG as a marine fuel, MPA has co-funded the construction of eight LNG-fuelled vessels. The first two were delivered this year to Keppel SMIT Towage and Maju Maritime, which have since conducted a total of 15 LNG bunkering operations.”
“We expect this number to grow as more LNG-fuelled vessels are delivered,” the minister said.
He added that the authority continues to work on LNG bunkering with international ports through the LNG Bunkering Focus Group that was recently joined by the first Middle Eastern partner, the Suez Canal Economic Zone Authority.
MPA added it has also joined the LNG bunkering coalition the SEALNG to further align its efforts with the global LNG bunkering supply chain.