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MET said in a statement on Monday that it has reached a partnership agreement with Celsius to build its first LNG vessel, which is scheduled to be delivered in 2027.
According to the trader, the efficient, modern LNG carrier will be constructed by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) and will support the growing LNG activities of MET Group.
MET did not provide further details regarding the LNG carrier.
Celsius Tankers, a unit of Celsius Shipping, has ordered five 180,000-cbm LNG carriers from China Merchants Heavy Industry in Jiangsu, with deliveries scheduled for 2026 and 2027.
Moreover, four of these LNG carriers will go on charter to Clearlake Shipping, a subsidiary of energy trader Gunvor.
In December 2022 Celsius and CMHI signed the 4+2+2 contract for the 180,000-cbm LNG carriers.
Last year, Jeppe Jensen, founder and chairman of Celisus Shipping announced that Celsius will order the fifth and sixth LNG carrier at CMHI.
The Deltamarin-designed vessels will feature MAN ME-GA engines and GTT’s Mark III Flex containment system.
Shipbuilding sources told LNG Prime that Celisus signed the shipbuilding deal for the fifth vessel earlier this year.
However, the contract for the sixth vessel is expected to be signed soon.
According to the sources, this vessel could be the jointly owned LNG carrier by Celsius and MET.
MET boosting LNG business
MET said the purchase of the LNG vessel supports its strategy to enhance its ability to supply its customers with LNG from various sources, including the recently signed agreement with Shell to purchase US LNG over a period of 10 years starting in 2027.
Prior to this contract, MET entered into a 20-year non-binding deal with US LNG terminal developer Commonwealth LNG in September last year to buy 1 mtpa of LNG from the proposed 9.3 mtpa plant in Cameron, Louisiana.
MET says it has one of the most geographically diverse LNG import structures in Europe, with long-term regasification capacity bookings in Germany, Croatia, and Spain.
The group has imported into eight different countries across the Mediterranean (Greece, Italy, Croatia, Spain), Northwest Europe (UK, Belgium, Germany), and the Nordic region (Finland).
In 2023, MET delivered more than 30 LNG cargoes to Europe.
The company has capacity rights at the Croatian FSRU-based terminal and received the first LNG cargo via the Krk facility in the northern Adriatic Sea in April 2021.
In addition, MET booked regasification capacities at the FSRU-based LNG import terminal in Germany’s Lubmin, owned by Deutsche ReGas.
This FSRU is now part of the Mukran LNG import facility which includes two units.
“We are delighted to reach this milestone for our LNG activities in partnership with Celsius. At MET we believe LNG will play an important role in the European energy transition,” MET chairman and CEO Benjamin Lakatos said.
