The Brunei LNG (BLNG) is the LNG plant in Lumut, Brunei.[2] It is the largest oil and gas producer in the country.[3] Moreover as of 2006, Brunei has been the 4th largest oil producer in Southeast Asia and the 9th largest LNG producer in the world.[4][5]
The first LNG plant in the Western Pacific was completed,[7][8] and the first ship to complete a voyage to Japan were in 1972.[9] In 1993, the LNG underwent a B$500 million renovation for the plant's life extension and again in the same year, the Japanese companies extended the SPA agreement for an additional 20 years.[10] In 1994, a South Korean company also signed a SPA agreement which would be taken into effect after 1997.[7] An estimated of $B1,632 million of LNG was sold to Japan in 1999.[10]
Plans to develop the Egret gas field was officially known in November 2001 and expected to start production in August 2003.[10] The renovation of the LNG plant took place again from 2004 until 2010.[11] In 2007, Japan has imported B$2 billion of both LNG and crude oil from Brunei.[12]
The facility uses Air Products' AP-C3MR process and has three LNG storage tanks capable of holding 195,000 cubic metres (6,900,000 cu ft).[15]
Brunei Gas Carriers
The first four carriers were delivered between October 1972 and October 1975, with a maximum storage capacity of 77,731 cubic metres (2,745,000 cu ft). These older ships were built in France (Bebatik, Bekalang, Bekulan, Belais, Belanak, Bilis and Bubuk). Brunei LNG operates seven LNG carriers through the joint venture company, Brunei Shell Tankers (BST).[16] BST was established in 1986.[16]
In 1998, the Brunei Gas Carriers (BSC) was established,[17] and in 2014, the three newer vessels were built in Korea (Amani, Amali and Arkat) and Japan (Abadi) by Daewoo and Mitsubishi Nagasaki respectively. The first of these three ships was delivered in June 2002, with the most recent ship, Amadi, being delivered in July 2011. These ships hold between 135,000 and 148,000 cubic metres (4,800,000 and 5,200,000 cu ft) of LNG collectively.[18]