COSCO, CNPC may boost LNG carrier order at Hudong

Chinese shipowner COSCO and energy firm CNPC could later this year order additional LNG vessels at compatriot shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua.

Hudong is already building three 174,000 cbm vessels for the partners scheduled for delivery in 2022-2023.

This represents the first LNG transportation project developed solely by Chinese companies including COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation, CNPC, and CSSC.

The first three vessels are part of a deal revealed in April 2020 and signed in June, which also included options for three additional ships.

Shipbuilding sources tell LNG Prime that COSCO and CNPC are looking to exercise options for the additional vessels later this year.

The ships would cost about $185 million, each, same as the first three LNG carriers, the sources said.

In addition, they would also feature WinGD X-DF dual-fuel engines and GTT’s NO96 L03+ containment system.

Hudong cuts steel for third carrier

In a related development, Hudong started working on the third LNG carrier it builds for the partners.

Hudong cuts steel for third carrier
Image: Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding

The state-owned shipbuilder said it held a steel cutting ceremony on Wednesday for the last ship in this batch.

Following delivery in 2022 and 2023, all these vessels will transport LNG for CNPC’s Hong Kong-listed unit PetroChina. The carriers should transport volumes from Cheniere’s Corpus Christi plant in the US to China.

As per the additional vessels, they could ship LNG from Eni’s Coral South FLNG project in Mozambique or the Shell-led LNG Canada development to China, the sources said. CNPC has stakes in both of the projects.

Most Popular

Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG wraps up $4 billion notes offering

Venture Global's unit Plaquemines LNG has closed a $4 billion offering of senior secured notes.

Argentina’s Enarsa to spend $567 million on LNG purchases

Argentina's state-owned LNG importer, Energia Argentina (Enarsa), will spend $570 million to purchase 22 liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from BP and TotalEnergies this year.

Shell’s LNG Canada to ship second cargo

Shell-led LNG Canada is expected to soon ship the second cargo of liquefied natural gas from the Kitimat facility on the west coast of Canada, according to shipping data.

More News Like This

Shell’s LNG Canada to ship second cargo

Shell-led LNG Canada is expected to soon ship the second cargo of liquefied natural gas from the Kitimat facility on the west coast of Canada, according to shipping data.

Shell ships first LNG Canada cargo

LNG giant Shell and its partners have shipped the first cargo produced at the LNG Canada facility in Kitimat, on the west coast of Canada.

PetroChina kicks off work on new Rudong LNG tank

State-owned PetroChina has begun construction on a new 200,000-cbm LNG storage tank at its Rudong LNG terminal in Jiangsu.

Argentina’s Enarsa gets offers for new LNG cargo tender

Argentina's state-owned LNG importer Energia Argentina (Enarsa) has received six offers for its third LNG cargo tender in 2025.