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Qatargas, Petronas ink LNG supply agreement

Posted: 24 Jul 2011 11:28 PM PDT

DOHA (Qatar): Qatargas achieved another milestone Sunday, as it announces the signing of a Heads of Agreement (HOA) to supply Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Petronas LNG Ltd (formerly known as Asean LNG Trading Company), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petronas, at a ceremony held in Doha, Qatar.

Under the terms of the HOA, Qatargas will deliver one and half million tonnes per annum (MTA) of LNG to Malaysia for a period of at least twenty years beginning in 2013. This is equivalent to about five per cent of Malaysia's current annual average domestic natural gas demand, which is growing at a rate of around six per cent per annum, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

The agreement was signed by Chief Executive Officer, Qatargas, Khalid Bin Khalifa Al Thani, and Director of Petronas LNG Ltd. and Vice President of Global LNG, Petronas Adnan Zainol Abidin.

In recognition of this achievement , HE Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry and Chairman of Qatargas, states: "I am delighted that Qatargas and Petronas have entered into this Agreement for the supply of LNG to Malaysia.

Qatar and Malaysia have long enjoyed an excellent relationship and this transaction is further evidence of the strong ties between the two nations."
Chief Executive Officer, Qatargas, Khalid Bin Khalifa Al Thani said: "It is the first time Qatargas has signed a HOA for supplying LNG to the South East Asian market. We are very pleased with this achievement as it represents the first long-term agreement for supplying LNG to one of the world''s fastest growing LNG markets. We look forward to a strong and long-term relationship with Petronas, one of the world''s premier energy companies. This milestone further demonstrates our commitment to supplying all corners of the globe with reliable LNG supplies."

Executive Vice President, Gas & Power, Petronas, Datuk Anuar Ahmad said: "Petronas views Qatargas as a strategic long term supplier of LNG for Malaysia, ensuring its security of supply. The signing of this HOA marks another important milestone in the growing relationship between Petronas and Qatar Petroleum."

Qatargas will supply the agreed volumes to Petronas from the Qatargas 2 joint venture, onboard its Q-Flex fleet of vessels to Malaysia''s first regasification terminal.

The terminal is currently being constructed on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia (Melaka) and is expected to become operational by mid 2012, coinciding with the 25th World Gas Conference to be held in Kuala Lumpur in June the same year.

Qatargas, established in 1984, pioneered the LNG industry in Qatar. Today Qatargas is the largest LNG producer in the world with a production capacity of 42 million tonnes per annum of LNG, from its seven trains delivering LNG safely and reliably to its customers in all four corners of the world from its first class facilities in Qatar. -- BERNAMA

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Malaysia, Australia sign asylum seeker swap deal

Posted: 24 Jul 2011 10:22 PM PDT

Malaysia, Australia sign asylum seeker swap deal

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Australia on Monday signed a controversial deal to send hundreds of boatpeople to the Southeast Asian nation, despite heavy criticism from rights groups.

Under the agreement inked in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will take 800 asylum seekers who have arrived in Australia by boat, in return for Australia accepting 4,000 processed refugees for resettlement.

As Malaysia's Home Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Australian Immigration Minister Chris Bowen signed the pact, a small group of activists held a protest outside the hotel venue to denounce the transfer agreement.

One placard held by one of about a dozen protesters said: "Refugees are not political football, treat them with respect and dignity."

The agreement, part of Canberra's push to develop a regional solution to people smuggling, is designed to deter boatpeople from making the dangerous sea journey to Australia.

But the plan has sparked concern because Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, nor has it ratified the UN Convention against Torture.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has not approved the swap proposal.

Amnesty International has said that asylum seekers sent to Malaysia could face lengthy waits to determine their status, as well as inhumane detention conditions, and even torture in the form of caning.

In Australia, about 200 demonstrators marched to an Australian immigration detention centre on Sunday to protest the deal with Malaysia. - AFP

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Malaysia, Australia sign asylum seeker swap deal

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Ahad, 24 Julai 2011