KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), under its wholly owned subsidiary PETRONAS Trading Corporation Sdn Bhd (PETCO) and Sumitomo Corporation (Sumitomo) signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) to jointly market and supply LNG bunker and related services through the PETRONAS Marine brand in both Malaysia and Tokyo Bay, Japan.
 
The MoC serves to build industrial platforms and end-to-end supply chains to offer more environmentally friendly and cost-efficient LNG for use as a marine fuel and reduce the GHG emissions attributable to maritime transport.
 
“As a progressive energy and solutions partner, we are continuously looking to co-create a sustainable market environment with industry players. We recognise our role in delivering the next generation fuel to cater for the bunker demand in the maritime industry. We are pleased to be collaborating with Sumitomo and hope to collaborate with other players in the LNG bunkering business in Japan in meeting our customers’ emerging needs,” said PETCO Chief Executive Officer, Shamsul Bahari Salleh.
 
“We are very proud and confident that the cooperation between PETRONAS and Sumitomo paving the way towards the development of LNG as a cleaner marine fuel in both Malaysia and Tokyo Bay, Japan, which are strategically important marine hubs to both parties,” said Department General Manager of Sumitomo, Shu Nakamura.  
 
“With this agreement, we pursue our ambition to build a comprehensive network of LNG bunkering. It also underscores our commitment to offer our customers the best available and technologically-proven solution to significantly reduce the environmental footprint of maritime transport,” he added. 
 
As LNG continues to play a key role as the next generation fuel to cater for the bunker fuel demand in the maritime industry, both companies are committed in promoting this solution to the market by having the right infrastructures in place, ensuring availability of supply and through continuous advocacy to users.
   
In November 2020, PETRONAS successfully delivered its first Ship-to-Ship LNG bunkering transfer at the port of Pasir Gudang, Johor from the 7,500 cubic meter MV Avenir Advantage, PETRONAS’ first LNG Bunkering Vessel (LBV) under the PETRONAS Marine brand to promote the use of LNG as a cleaner marine fuel.
 
Sumitomo has also ordered an LNG bunkering vessel through a joint venture, Ecobunker Shipping Co., Ltd, which is on track to commence LNG bunker service in Tokyo Bay in 2021.
 
About PETRONAS:
Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) is a global energy and solutions partner with presence in over 50 countries. Driven by its purpose to enrich lives for a sustainable future, PETRONAS continues to expand its portfolio in conventional and unconventional resources, and a diverse range of fuel, lubricant, and petrochemical products.
 
About PETCO:
PETRONAS Trading Corporation Sdn Bhd (PETCO) is a wholly owned subsidiary of PETRONAS, providing solutions in the Midstream space, through its subsidiaries PETCO Trading Labuan Company Ltd (PTLCL), PETCO Trading DMCC (PTD) and PETCO Trading (UK) Limited (PTUK). Its principal activities are marketing, sourcing, trading and processing of crude oil and petroleum products in the East of Suez region which covers Asia Pacific & Far East as well as Middle East & Red Sea and the West of Suez. 
 
About PETRONAS Marine brand:
PETRONAS Marine brand, an integrated business providing multiple solutions in key bunker hubs across the globe including LNG, Low and High Sulphur fuel oils, marine gas oil and lubricants which are currently available through its network in South East Asia, Japan, Middle East and South Africa.  Parties interested to find out more about PETRONAS’ LNG bunkering services may contact Mohd Rafe Mohamed Ramli, Head of Business Development for LNG Bunkering
 
About Sumitomo Corporation: For 68 years, Sumitomo has supplied maritime transport companies with comprehensive shipping fuel solutions on a global scale with an emphasis on safety and reliability, thereby contributing to the development of global maritime transport and trade. With tighter regulations on marine fuels following the Global Sulphur Cap 2020 and to reach its GHGreduction targets, Sumitomo has ordered an LNG bunker vessel via a joint venture, Ecobunker Shipping Co., Ltd and which commence service in Tokyo Bay in 2021. Parties interested to find out more about Sumitomo’ LNG bunkering services may contact Kazutaka Kawanishi, Assistant General Manager (Oil, LPG, Offshore Business Department) (kazutaka.kawanishi@sumitomocorp.com / +81-(0)3-6285-4366).

SOURCE: PETRONAS and Sumitomo Corporation
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
PETRONAS
Name: Mohd Rafe Mohamed Ramli
Tel: +603 – 2392 1985
Email: rafe.ramli@petronas.com 

Sumitomo Corporation
Name: Kazutaka Kawanishi
Tel: +81-(0)3-6285-4366
Email: kazutaka.kawanishi@sumitomocorp.com 

--BERNAMA