Japan’s city gas supplier Saibu Gas said it has received its first LNG cargo from Novatek’s giant Yamal project in the Russian Arctic.
Teekay’s ice-class Arc7 LNG carrier, one of the fifteen ice-class vessels serving the Yamal project, delivered the cargo to the Hibiki regasification terminal in Kitakyushu on July 18.
Saibu Gas said in a statement it bought the LNG cargo of about 70,000 tons for reload/transshipment business for overseas customers.
The Japanese firm says it has been promoting global business as it looks to make the Hibiki LNG terminal a hub for LNG trade in the Asian region.
In addition, the firm is looking to expand diversity and flexibility of LNG supply while also contributing to conversion to natural gas in order to slash emissions.
To remind, Russia’s Novatek said in December it had joined forces with Saibu Gas to complete its first trial delivery of LNG shipped in ISO containers to the world’s largest energy consumer China.
The duo delivered the shipment in Tiger Gas-owned ISO containers from the Hibiki container terminal to Shanghai.
Saibu Gas has also earlier this year started a year-round delivery of LNG via ISO containers to China’s Jusda Energy Technology.
The firm owns the 2.4 mtpa Hibiki LNG terminal located on the northernmost city on Japan’s Kyushu Island in Fukuoka prefecture.
Saibu Gas has a 90% stake while compatriot utility Kyushu Electric Power holds the rest.
