据路透社新加坡报道,业内人士周一表示,沙特阿美航运部门Bahri已经发表意向书,表示有意从2025年起租用12艘液化天然气(LNG)船,这是该公司首次进军超低温燃料领域。
根据Bahri的官网,沙特阿拉伯的国家航运公司拥有6个业务部门,经营石油、化学品、物流、干散货、船舶管理和数据,拥有90艘船只,包括43艘超大型原油运输船(VLCCs)和36艘化学品/成品油轮。
消息人士称,Bahri的意向书可能是沙特阿美扩大LNG贸易的一部分,该公司正在提高天然气产量,并考虑扩大LNG投资。
沙特能源部长、沙特阿美首席执行官阿卜杜勒·阿齐兹·本·萨勒曼王子表示,沙特阿美计划成为一个主要的全球天然气参与者,一直在开发自己的天然气资源,同时关注美国,俄罗斯,澳大利亚和非洲的天然气资产。
今年5月,沙特阿美与美国桑普拉能源公司签署了一项为期20年的LNG供应协议,将从位于桑普拉正在开发的美国德克萨斯州阿瑟港出口终端购买LNG,阿美还同意在这个数十亿美元项目的第一阶段,购买25% 的股份。
业内消息人士称,阿美交易部门沙特阿美贸易公司预计也将于明年1月聘请一家LNG交易商加入其在新加坡的团队。
据沙特阿美的官网信息,该公司还计划在新加坡聘请一名LNG运营协调员,为LNG合同谈判、LNG船舶租赁和运输业务提供支持。
根据职位描述,该人员将与交易员密切合作,提供运营支持,并共同实施交易策略。
沙特阿美贸易公司已经在新加坡聘请了一名LNG高管,负责发展业务,迄今已达成协议,向孟加拉国、甚至巴基斯坦供应LNG。
詹晓晶 摘自 路透社
原文如下:
Saudi Aramco's shipping arm looks to charter tankers in LNG foray-sources
Saudi Aramco’s shipping arm Bahri has issued an expression of interest (EOI) to charter up to 12 liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers from 2025, its first foray into the superchilled fuel, industry sources said on Monday.
According to Bahri’s website, the national shipping carrier of Saudi Arabia has six business units dealing in oil, chemicals, logistics, dry bulk, ship management and data and owns 90 vessels, including 43 very large crude carriers (VLCCs) and 36 chemical/product tankers.
Bahri’s EOI is likely part of Aramco’s expansion into LNG trading as it boosts gas production and considers expanding its LNG investments, the sources said.
The Saudi state oil giant plans to become a major global gas player and has been developing its own gas resources as well as eyeing gas assets in the United States, Russia, Australia and Africa, the company’s chief executive officer and the Saudi energy minister have said.
In May, it signed a 20-year agreement to buy LNG from a forthcoming export terminal in Port Arthur, Texas that U.S.-based Sempra Energy is developing. It also agreed to buy a 25% equity stake in the first phase of the multibillion-dollar project.
The company’s trading arm, Aramco Trading Co, is also expected to hire an LNG trader to join its team in Singapore in January, industry sources said.
It is also looking to hire an LNG operations coordinator in Singapore to provide support for LNG contract negotiations, LNG ship chartering and shipping operations, according to Aramco’s website.
The person will work closely with traders to provide operations support and jointly implement trading strategies, according to the job description.
Aramco Trading Co already has an LNG executive in Singapore to develop its business and has so far struck deals to supply LNG to Bangladesh and potentially to Pakistan.