Thai power generator seeking direct LNG supplies

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand is seeking direct supplies of liquefied natural gas.

Citing a company document, Reuters reports the state-run company is looking for expressions of interest for the supply of 1.5 million metric tons per year. The volumes would be delivered to the Map Ta Phut LNG receiving terminal.

The facility is operated by another state-run company, PTT, as the country’s only importer, that has been the supplier of LNG for EGAT.

The potential contract terms are for 4 and 8 years starting in March 2019, with the interested bidders called to submit their bids by the end of this month.

The company will use the supplies to fire up the power plants, in line with the government’s plan to boost the competition in the sector.

EGAT has further acquired 1.5 mtpa of regasification capacity at the Map Ta Phut LNG terminal from PTT for a period of 38 years, starting in 2019.

The company itself is looking to build an FSRU-based terminal with the capacity to handle 5 mtpa of LNG.

The facility would be located at the upper part of the Gulf of Thailand, enabling it to feed the regasified LNG to South Bangkok power plant and North Bangkok power plant.

The construction is expected to start in 2019 and the system test is scheduled between 2020-2023 before the operation of natural gas transfer will start in 2024, according to EGAT.