DOHA: RasGas Company Limited (RasGas) sealed a landmark 15-year liquefied natural gas (LNG) Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla). The agreement was signed in Doha by Mr. Hamad Mubarak Al-Muhannadi, CEO of RasGas, and Mr. Abdul Mansur Md Faizullah, Petrobangla Chairman.
The event was attended by H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, Qatar’s Minister of Energy and Industry, the honourable Bangladesh State Minister Nasrul Hamid, H.E. Mr. Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, the President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum, and Mr. Syed Ashfaquzzaman, Secretary of Petrobangla. During the event, Mr. Al Muhannadi, outlined the size and duration of the agreement, which will see the Qatari energy giant supplying 2.5 million tonnes of LNG per annum to Petrobangla for 15 years. Deliveries will be to Petrobangla’s floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) near Moheshkhali Island in Bangladesh, marking RasGas’ first long term contract delivered to a FSRU.
The agreement with Petrobangla asserts RasGas continued commitment to ensuring energy security to its customers in Asia, as well as its position as a reliable supplier of LNG, a cleaner, more efficient source of energy. “Reliable access to energy plays a vital role in driving socio-economic growth, and RasGas has fulfilled our promise to safely and reliably provide this access for more than two decades,” said Mr. Al Muhannadi. “Bangladesh has very ambitious growth plans and this landmark partnership between our two countries will support Bangladesh as it strives to achieve its 2021 and 2040 development goals.”
Petrobangla Chairman, Mr. Faizullah confirmed, “Bangladesh, under the visionary stewardship of Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has already ensured sustainable annual growth of above 7%, and we are striving to ensure energy security and a reliable supply of gas to our entrepreneurs. LNG would play a vital role in the growth of the Bangladesh economy, and we are happy to enter into this historic partnership with Qatar, a long-trusted friend.” Qatar and Bangladesh’s strong economic, political and cultural ties were highlighted by H.E. Dr. Al Sada, who went on to state that the SPA “underscores our commitment to our partnership with Bangladesh, and highlights Qatar’s continued leadership in bringing clean and reliable LNG to new markets and new customers”.
Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar Petroleum President & CEO said “We are very pleased to see the Republic of Bangladesh join the list of countries that benefit from Qatari gas to support their economic growth and development by using the most environmentally friendly fossil fuel. I would like to thank Petrobangla for their confidence in Qatar, and we look forward to working with them to secure Bangladesh’s future needs. This agreement enhances Qatar’s leading position as an LNG provider, and creates broader horizons of growth and development as it moves forward under the wise leadership and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar.” Biz Today Monitoring
