Hong Kong-Based Noble Group Secures First LNG Charter

Hong Kong-listed commodities trader Noble Group​ has secured its first charter for an LNG carrier.

ICIS Heren understands that Noble Group will take control of the 1979-built 126,000 cubic metre (m³) LNG Taurus from April 2012 for a period of two years. According to broking sources, the vessel has been chartered out for about $40,000/day. The vessel is currently on charter to Japanese utility Kansai Electric.

An executive from Noble Group confirmed the charter of the vessel, but declined to comment on the rates.

He said that Noble Group has “plans for the vessel”.

“Noble Group is a very much asset-driven company,” he said. “If we [had] wanted to engage in speculative spot LNG trading, we would have done it by now.”

He further confirmed that the charter is due to start in the first quarter of 2012, but declined to comment on specific dates.

Earlier this month, the Hong Kong-listed trader signed a preliminary supply agreement with InterOil and Pacific LNG Operations to buy 1m tonnes per annum (mtpa) from the Gulf LNG Project in Papua New Guinea from 2014 for a 10-year period.

(icis)