The order marks the first Qatari LNG carriers to be built in China
Qatar Petroleum has ordered four new LNG carriers from Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group Co Ltd (Hudong), a wholly-owned subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC).
These four carriers are the first batch of orders in Qatar Petroleum’s massive LNG shipbuilding programme, which will cater for future LNG fleet requirements for the North Field expansion projects as well as for existing vessel replacement requirements. This order is also the first-ever placed by Qatar Petroleum or any of its affiliates with a Chinese shipyard for LNG ships and the first with Hudong in connection with the agreement to reserve ship construction capacity, executed in April 2020.
Minister of State for Energy Affairs and Qatar Petroleum President and CEO, HE Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, said they continue to push forward with the LNG expansion projects, and the announcement is yet another step in the journey.
I am especially pleased with the signing of this order as it marks our first ever new LNG carrier to be built in the People’s Republic of China.
HE Minister Al-Kaabi added that they are proud to contribute to the success story of the LNG ship construction industry in China and also confident in Hudong’s capabilities to execute the order, which is worth in excess of QAR2.8 billion, to the highest safety and technical standards.
The North Field expansion projects will increase Qatar’s LNG production capacity from 77 million tonnes per annum to 126 million tonnes per annum. Qatar Petroleum’s LNG carrier fleet programme is the largest of its kind in the history of the LNG industry and will play a pivotal role in meeting the shipping requirements of the local and international LNG projects of Qatar Petroleum, as well as replace some of Qatar’s existing LNG fleet.
For updates and more information, visit qp.com.qa.
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