Thailand's PTT venture takes US$500m stake in Petronas LNG project
BANGKOK: PTTEP, the exploration and production arm of Thailand's oil and gas giant PTT Group, said on Thursday their liquefied natural gas (LNG) venture had taken a $500 million stake in a project with Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas).
Announcing second-quarter results – which were roughly in line with analysts’ expectations – PTTEP said it is looking to expand further in Southeast Asia and is awaiting the results of a few bid proposals for exploration projects in the region.
It said a joint venture with its parent company, PTT Global LNG Co, has bought a 10% stake in liquefaction plant MLNG Train 9 in Malaysia.
The announcement comes barely a day after Petronas scrapped a proposed C$36 billion (RM123 billion) LNG project in Canada due to weak prices, dealing a blow to the Malaysian state company’s global ambitions and leaving it with a bill for work already done.
“Investment with a leading company, Petronas, would support the LNG business of the company in expanding our operations in Malaysia in the future,” PTTEP said in a statement.
PTTEP said it is awaiting the results of “a few” bid proposals submitted for projects in the final stages of development or close to production, mainly in Southeast Asia.
“The company plans to accelerate exploration activities in ... projects in the current portfolio, particularly focused on Myanmar and Malaysia, as well as seeking new opportunities in strategic areas,” it said.
PTTEP will also participate in the bidding process for the Bongkot and Erawan gas fields in the Gulf of Thailand in the first quarter of 2018, it said.
PTTEP posted a second-quarter net profit of US$220 million, an increase of more than 180% from the same time last year, which it said was largely due to a hedging gain this year and a loss last year as well as a decrease in tax.
It said it is aiming for production of 290,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) in the third quarter in Thailand and expects total average sales for 2017 to be 300,000 boed. – Reuters