KOREA Gas (KoGas) will select two or three preferential bidders to fulfil a new contract for the supply of LNG over the next 20 years.
Official contracts for the supply of 6M tonnes of LNG annually are expected to be signed in February next year. Twelve bidders from nine countries ?Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Brunei, Australia, Algeria, Iran and Russia are in the fray.
Apart from competitive price, KoGas is also keen to enter into Free-on-Board (FOB) agreements that would give the utility giant the choice of shipping arrangements.
If KoGas agrees an FOB contract then it is likely to float a joint-venture with domestic shipping companies Hanjin Shipping, Hyundai Merchant Marine, SK Shipping and/or Korea Line.
The four companies currently already have LNG transport contracts with KoGas.