According to the Marine Department Malaysia (JLM), the government through the Ministry of Transport and the agency, together with Petronas, have been working to develop the infrastructure needed to support LNG bunkering activities in the region since 2017.

It said the government has shown interest in expanding Malaysia as a bunkering hub in Southeast Asia.

“This first LNG Bunkering operation was carried out on Nov 9, providing success in the new landscape of the Malaysian bunkering industry,” JLM said in a statement Tuesday.

The agency added that the first operation involved the supply of 1,150 tonnes liquefied natural gas from the ship MV Avenir Advantage to the vehicle carrier ship Siem Aristotle.

Meanwhile, for the next operation, MV Avenir Advantage will operate in Malaysian waters to provide LNG bunkering services and other related services to international and domestic vessels passing through Malaysian waters, especially in the Straits of Malacca, said JLM.

MV Avenir Advantage is a Malaysian flag LNG bunkering ship used in this activity and leased by Petronas from Future Horizon, a joint-venture company between MISC Bhd and Avenir LNG Pte Ltd.

“This makes Malaysia as one of the first-mover countries to provide LNG bunkering services to the marine industry in the east,” said JLM.