Qatargas will provide liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Argentina under company’s first long-term gas deal with a Latin American country.

Under the terms of the heads of agreement signed with state-owned  Energia Argentina Sociedad Anonima (Enarsa), Qatargas will supply 5 million tonnes a year (t/y) of LNG, equivalent to 16 per cent of Argentina’s gas needs.

The deliveries will commence in 2014.

“Argentina is one of the world’s fastest-growing LNG markets, which needs long-term supplies to meet its increasing demand for natural gas,” says Mohammed bin Saleh al-Sada, chairman, Qatargas.

Argentina’s new LNG import terminal in Escobar only came online a month ago and is expected to double the country’s LNG import capacity.

Qatargas is the largest LNG producer in the world with a production capacity of 42 million t/y.