PGNiG starts tender process to charter LNG tankers

Poland’s state-run gas firm PGNiG has reportedly started the tender process to charter liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers for its new imports of the super-chilled fuel.

According to Reuters, the company currently imports most of the gas it sells to its customers from Russia’s Gazprom, but Warsaw has taken steps to reduce that reliance so that it does not have to extend a long-term deal on gas supplies after 2022.

Recently, PGNiG bought more LNG from Qatar and the U.S. and signed import deals with companies including Venture Global which is developing the Calcasieu Pass LNG terminal.

Reuters added that part of the supply deals were signed on a free-on-board (FOB) basis, meaning the buyer has to arrange their own shipping, so the company started a tender process for term charters.

The company stated that big players like Qatar Gas would invest in more vessels, so PGNiG aims to have 6 to 8 vessels starting from the beginning of 2022 or 2023. PGNiG is also considering re-exporting some of its gas in the future, most probably the Asian market.