Qatargas Operating Company Limited announced that it will deliver the first ever cargo of Liquefied Natural Gas to Singapore next year.

The cargo, expected to be delivered during the Q1 of 2013 will be used to commission Singapore LNG Corporation Private Limited LNG Terminal being built on Jurong Island Singapore.

Mr Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani CEO of Qatargas said that "Qatari LNG continues to have a key role to play in helping countries around the world improve the diversity of their energy supplies. We are pleased with this development which will help to meet the growing demand for energy in Singapore and help us build our relationship with a new customer. Qatargas is at the forefront of commissioning new LNG Terminals and is confident of its continuing ability to maintain safe, long-term reliable supplies of clean LNG energy to countries where it is needed the most."

The cargo will be delivered on board either a Q-Flex or a Q-Max LNG vessel both of which can be accommodated at the LNG Terminal. The Singapore LNG Terminal will be the second LNG terminal in South East Asia commissioned with the help of Qatargas. In June 2011, Qatargas delivered a commissioning cargo to Thailand's Map Ta Phut LNG Terminal.

Qatargas has developed considerable expertise in supporting the commissioning of new LNG Terminals globally. To date, the Company has provided commissioning cargoes to eight LNG terminals. Singapore will be the ninth such arrangement.

The Singapore LNG Terminal will be the first open-access, multi-user LNG Terminal in Asia. The terminal is expected to begin commercial operations in the second quarter of 2013 with an initial throughput capacity of 3.5 million tonnes per annum of LNG.