KUALA LUMPUR: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) is ready to provide commercial liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering services by January 1, 2020, in support of the government’s ambition towards making Malaysia as a bunkering hub.

Its vice president LNG marketing and trading Ahmad Adly Alias said as one of the world’s major LNG producer, the national oil and gas giant is well-positioned to develop the cleaner LNG as the fuel of choice for the industry as it emits zero sulphur when burnt.

This would ensure LNG emerge as a strong contender to the traditional bunker fuel and further strengthen its market potential he said, adding that the LNG share of bunker market is expected to increase up to seven per cent by 2030 from less than three per cent currently.

“In capitalising this advantage, we have embarked on an initiative to propel Malaysia as an LNG bunkering hub focusing among others, setting up the necessary infrastructures in Pengerang, Johor and Sungai Udang, Malacca,” he said during his keynote address at the Green Shipping Conference in collaboration with the World Maritime Week Malaysia.

Bunkering refers to the supply of fuel for use by ships which includes the shipboard logistics of loading fuel and distributing it among available bunker tanks.

The term ‘bunkering’ originated during the days of steamships, when fuel, coal, are stored in bunkers.