Malaysia’s Johor Port gaining prominence as an Asian LNG bunkering hub

Malaysia’s Johor Port Berhad (Johor Port) has announced that it has sold more than 100,000 mt of LNG bunkers since November 2020.

PHOTO: Cargo Ships in Johor, Malaysia. Getty Images

In July, the Malaysian port completed its 100th LNG bunkering operation. The bunker operations were carried out in partnership with PETCO Trading (PTLCL), a trading arm of Malaysian energy company PETRONAS.

“The recent milestone of the 100th LNG Bunkering operation marks a notable achievement for Johor Port as the most active LNG Bunkering port in Asia with a total reported bunkered tonnage of more than 100,000 metric tons,” Johor Port’s chief executive Md Derick Basir says.

Johor, which is located closer to Singapore, could provide LNG-fuelled vessels with an alternative location to bunker LNG. Johor Port Authority claims that it has effectively overtaken Singapore to emerge as the biggest LNG bunkering hub in the region.

The Johor Port Authority claims cannot be substantiated as it does not release monthly LNG bunkering numbers. In contrast, data from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) shows that Singapore has sold about 144,000 mt of LNG bunkers since 2020, which is significantly more than the 100,000 mt sold in Johor during the same period.

The Pasir Gudang Port Limit area, which is controlled by the Johor Port, is positioned optimally to cater to both East and West bound vessels without deviating much from their routes for LNG bunkering operations, thus making it a preferred port for LNG bunkering, the port authority adds.

By Tuhin Roy

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