Petrobangla rejects Saudi Aramco LNG cargo over compliance issue, replacement cargo to arrive
The cargo, carried by the 29-year-old Alhamra, was not accepted for unloading at Summit’s floating LNG terminal in Maheshkhali.
Petrobangla has rejected a liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo supplied by Saudi Aramco after the vessel carrying it failed to meet the required standards for acceptance, with the shipment set to be replaced by another cargo.
The Liberia-flagged Alhamra arrived off Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar around midnight on 11 August carrying about 61,000 tonnes of LNG. However, the cargo was not unloaded at Summit's floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) due to concerns over the vessel's compliance with safety and berthing requirements, officials said.
The 29-year-old Alhamra, built in 1997, is a Moss-type LNG carrier with a capacity of around 135,000 cubic metres. The vessel is 290 metres long and 48 metres wide, with a draft of 11.3 metres, and carries LNG in spherical tanks.
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The vessel remained near the terminal without connecting for unloading.
Deen Mohammad, general manager (LNG) at Petrobangla, told The Business Standard that the vessel did not meet the required standards for acceptance.
"It could not meet our standard requirements for acceptance, which is why it could not be accepted," he said.
Deen Mohammad said the rejected cargo would be replaced with another shipment.
"The vessel has already returned. They will provide us with a replacement cargo," he said.
However, Nurul Alam, assistant general manager of Uni-Global, the vessel's local shipping agent, said the vessel had not yet left Maheshkhali.
"The vessel is still at Maheshkhali. We have not received any decision to return the vessel without unloading. If such a decision comes, the vessel will be returned following the proper procedure," he told TBS.
Asked whether the rejection could affect LNG supply, Deen Mohammad said there was no immediate concern as other cargoes were in the pipeline.
"This is a continuous process. The cargoes are being procured and supplied. We are trying to ensure continuous and smooth supply," he said.
The incident underscores the safety and technical requirements for receiving LNG at Bangladesh's floating storage and regasification units, where vessels must meet prescribed compatibility and safety standards before being connected to terminals.
Petrobangla officials said the rejected shipment would be replaced with another cargo and LNG supply would continue through other scheduled shipments.
