A unit of Malaysian energy giant Petronas said Friday it signed its first LNG supply contract linked to a Canadian gas price index.
“Petronas LNG introduced the Canada Alberta Energy Company (AECO) index as a new LNG price indexation to its customers following the sale of a spot cargo from Bintulu, Malaysia, to a buyer in Far East for August 2021 delivery,” it said.
AECO is a price benchmark for natural gas in Canada, similar to the United States’ Henry Hub.
“It is transparent as the index is traded in real time, with high liquidity backed by large gas reserves,” Petronas said.
“Step towards establishing a transparent LNG price index”
The new move is part of the company’s plan to include additional pricing option for its customers, allowing them to “enjoy its associated benefits.”
“With AECO, LNG buyer has the flexibility to further diversify its price exposures from established key price indices such as Japanese Crude Cocktail (JCC), Brent, Japan Korea Marker (JKM), US Henry Hub and UK National Balancing Point (NBP),” Petronas said.
In addition, the sale of the spot cargo on AECO-linked price is a “significant step towards establishing a transparent price index” in the LNG market to not only complement Petronas’ pricing diversification for cargoes but also for the supply of LNG from Canada when it starts commercial delivery, expected in 2024, the firm said.
The Malaysian giant has a stake in the Shell-led giant LNG Canada project in Kitimat. The firm has recently confirmed the long-term charter of three vessels from South Korean shipowner Hyundai LNG Shipping to ship volumes from the development.
Petronas currently sources LNG cargoes from its global portfolio of supply from Malaysia, Egypt but also Australia.