Energy Capital Vietnam and Gunvor form joint venture to trade and ship LNG to Vietnam

Energy Capital Vietnam and Gunvor have entered into a partnership to trade and ship LNG to Vietnam

An ECV-led consortium is developing a LNG-to-power project in Mui Ke Ga, Binh Thuan province in Southeast Vietnam. Under the partnership, ECV and Gunvor will form a JV responsible for trading and shipping on behalf of ECV. In addition, Gunvor will supply LNG to the joint venture (JV) on a long-term basis.

"ECV is committed to providing Vietnam with energy security made possible through access to abundant US LNG, which will be supplied to our project in an economically efficient and sustainable manner by our JV with Gunvor," said David Lewis, ECV chairman and CEO. "As the worldwide LNG market continues to mature – with increasing volumes and trading complexity – this innovative sourcing partnership will help optimise our fuel supply chain and streamline delivery logistics."

As the largest independent LNG trader in the world, Gunvor's trading portfolio consists of a significant portion of US-based supply, which will ensure a reliable, stable, and cost-competitive fuel supply to the project and the province as a whole.

"Gunvor is pleased to partner with ECV on this LNG-to-power project in Vietnam which will be among the country's most strategically important LNG developments," said Seth Thomas Pietras, Gunvor's corporate affairs director. "The introduction of LNG to the region will initiate a much-needed energy transition and will help contribute to a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The Binh Thuan province has been seeking a cleaner and more reliable energy source for many years, and the ECV project will also create technical and economic development opportunities for the local population."

Maius GmbH, a Swiss structuring and project finance advisor, advises ECV on the structuring of its debt and equity as well as risk mitigation of this project.

The fully private, multi-phase power project will connect via subsea pipeline to an offshore Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) to import LNG. Phase I of the project is targeting final investment decision in late 2021 and commercial operation date by 2025. The project will consume approximately 1.5 million tonnes per year of LNG, with an ability to increase consumption to reflect subsequent development phases and opportunities presented by market conditions.