Petronas and JERA to jointly develop global LNG bunkering supply network

Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with JERA Co., Inc. (JERA), that will see both companies collaborate on growing the use of natural gas as a marine fuel through LNG bunkering solutions.

Through the MoU, Malaysian government-owned Petronas and Japan’s largest power company JERA will explore the establishment of a global bunkering supply network, leveraging on both companies’ experience in LNG bunkering.

As Bunkerspot previously reported, JERA participated in the first LNG bunkering operation in Japan in October 2020. The following month, Petronas carried out its first ship-to-ship LNG fuelling operation at Pasir Gudang.

In addition to LNG bunkering, the partners will collaborate on a range of low-carbon energy initiatives, LNG, ammonia and hydrogen.

‘We are proud to elevate our four-decade long relationship with JERA which will not only see us explore emerging low-carbon energy sources such as ammonia and hydrogen but also to strengthen our LNG partnership,’ said Petronas Executive Vice President, Gas & New Energy, Adnan Zainal Abidin.

‘Importantly, the scope of collaboration also opens up opportunities across Petronas’ integrated value chain and beyond the borders of Japan as we seek to grow the use of low-carbon energy sources globally.’

Petronas says the MoU with JERA is a result of both companies’ ‘shared vision of achieving net zero carbon emissions’. The companies plan to intensify collaboration in the supply chains for ammonia and hydrogen fuels while continuing to advocate for the use of LNG. A producer of ammonia, Petronas also established a hydrogen business in November 2020.

Petronas is already producing blue hydrogen as a by-product from its facilities and will be exploring the commercial production of green hydrogen in the near future.

As ship.enegy previously reported this week, Petronas Marine partnered on Peninsula’s maiden LNG bunkering operation in Malaysian waters last month.