The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has made its initial market approach as the state-owned player moves to line up its maiden imports of liquefied natural gas.

EGAT is in the market for up to 1.5 million tonnes per annum of LNG that it will import via compatriot PTT’s existing receiving and regasification facility at Map Ta Phut on Thailand’s eastern seaboard. Volumes are being sought for between four and eight years from March 2019 and the gas will be utilised at its South Bangkok and Wang Noi power plants.

PTT, which today is Thailand’s sole importer of LNG, is a potential contender to supply EGAT, which has requested that expressions of interest be submitted by 31 August.

The latter has secured access to 1.5 million tpa of regas capacity at the Map Ta Phut terminal for 38 years starting in 2019.

Meanwhile, EGAT is said to still be pursuing its earlier touted 5 million tpa floating storage and regasification unit that would be deployed in the Gulf of Thailand.

PTT’s Map Ta Phut terminal has already had its initial capacity doubled to 10 million tpa and a further incremental expansion to 11.5 million tpa is expected to be completed next year.

Weekly

EGAT seeks own LNG