No current gas contracts with Qatar, EMA clarifies

Straits Times 1 Jul 10;

THE Energy Market Authority (EMA) has said that Singapore currently has no contracts for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar, but it remains open to sourcing the fuel from worldwide suppliers, including Qatar.

It noted that LNG will be imported by BG Singapore Gas Marketing (BG), a subsidiary of BG Group, which was appointed by EMA following a competitive tender process to be the LNG aggregator for Singapore.

Under this arrangement, BG has an exclusive licence to import up to 3 million tonnes per annum of LNG or until 2023, whichever is earlier, said EMA.

The supply of LNG from BG will come from a diversified portfolio of sources, including Egypt, Trinidad & Tobago and Australia, it said.

BG Group is headquartered in Britain and has operations in more than 25 countries, according to its website.

The EMA statement follows remarks made by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on Tuesday at a dialogue at the World Cities Summit. He said then: 'We are buying gas from our neighbours. Our neighbours are thinking of upping the price in spite of the contract. So we are preparing an LNG station to buy gas from Qatar and store it.'

EMA said in its statement yesterday: 'The Government is indeed developing an LNG terminal that will enhance our energy security through diversification of our gas supply sources.'

The terminal, under construction on Jurong Island, will begin operations in 2013, according to earlier media reports.

EMA said it has set up a new subsidiary, the Singapore LNG Corporation, or SLNG, to own the LNG terminal and oversee its development.

'With such a facility, Singapore will be plugged in to the global gas market, and will be able to bring in gas from countries all over the world, including Qatar.

'As Singapore's gas needs increase over time, we will naturally have to source for new supplies of LNG beyond the BG franchise. We remain open to importing LNG from other suppliers, including Qatar, for our future gas needs.'

The EMA is a statutory board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Its main goals are to promote effective competition in the energy market, ensure a reliable and secure energy supply, and develop a dynamic energy sector here.

Separately, MM Lee's press secretary Yeong Yoon Ying wrote to The Straits Times yesterday saying its report 'Singapore to buy natural gas from Qatar' had 'misinterpreted' Mr Lee's remarks.

'The point which MM made was that Singapore is preparing an LNG terminal to enhance our energy security. This facility will enable Singapore to buy and store LNG from Qatar and other countries in the world,' said Madam Yeong.

EMA clarifies report on S'pore building LNG terminal to buy & store Qatar gas
Channel NewsAsia 30 Jun 10;

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Energy Market Authority (EMA) has clarified a report quoting Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew as saying that Singapore will be building a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal to buy gas from Qatar and store it.

EMA said it has received several queries from the industry on this matter following the report by The Straits Times on 30 June.

It clarified the context in which these remarks were made.

EMA said the government is indeed developing an LNG terminal that will enhance Singapore's energy security through diversification of its gas supply sources.

EMA has set up a new subsidiary, the Singapore LNG Corporation or SLNG, to own the LNG terminal and oversee its development.

"With such a facility, Singapore will be plugged in to the global gas market, and will be able to bring in gas from countries all over the world, including Qatar," EMA said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Currently, however, Singapore has no contracts for LNG supply from Qatar," it added.

EMA said LNG will be imported by BG Singapore Gas Marketing Pte Limited (BG), a subsidiary of BG Group.

It was appointed by EMA, following a competitive tender process, to be the LNG Aggregator for Singapore.

Under this arrangement, BG has an exclusive licence to import up to 3 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of LNG or until 2023, whichever is earlier.

EMA said the supply of LNG from BG will come from a diversified portfolio of sources, including Egypt, Trinidad & Tobago and Australia.

"As Singapore's gas needs increase over time, we will naturally have to source for new supplies of LNG beyond the BG franchise. We remain open to importing LNG from other suppliers, including Qatar, for our future gas needs," EMA said.

- CNA/ir