Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), through its wholly-owned subsidiary KS Investments Pte Ltd (KSI), and BG Group plc (BG Group) have been selected to supply Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) bunker to vessels in the Port of Singapore. The joint bid submitted by Keppel O&M and BG Group for the LNG bunker supplier licence is one of the two top bids selected by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). The awarding of the licence is in line with the Port of Singapore's plans to launch the LNG Bunkering Pilot Programme in 2017.
Bunkering is the process of supplying fuels to ships for their own use, with Singapore as the largest and most important bunkering port in the world.
With the granting of the licence, Keppel O&M and BG Group will work on forming a 50-50 joint venture to deliver an end-to-end bunkering solution using LNG sourced from BG Group's diversified LNG portfolio and leveraging Keppel O&M's expertise in LNG vessel servicing.
The new venture builds on BG Group's existing role as the exclusive aggregator for Singapore's first 3 million tonnes per annum of LNG demand. Following the start of commercial operations at Singapore LNG Corporation's LNG terminal in May 2013, BG Group has to date delivered 72 cargoes into Singapore from its global LNG portfolio, helping the country to safely diversify its energy sources and increase security of supply.
Keppel O&M's experience in providing LNG solutions encompasses not only repair services for gas carriers, but also complex offshore conversions. Keppel O&M successfully completed the world's first Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) in 2008, which was followed by two more similar units, and was the first shipyard to undertake the conversion of a Floating Liquefaction Facility in 2014.
To focus further efforts on solutions for the LNG market, Keppel O&M set up a new design and technology arm, Gas Technology Development (GTD) in 2015. Through its other design and technology arm, Marine Technology Development, Keppel O&M has also developed a range of designs for LNG vessels including barges, carriers, and dual-fuel tugs that can run on diesel and LNG.
More details will be announced upon the setting up of the joint venture between Keppel O&M and BG Group to provide LNG bunkering services in Singapore.