Qatargas has delivered Thailand’s first shipment of liquid natural gas (LNG), the first of two initial cargoes that will be used to commission the Map Ta Phut Terminal.

The PTT Public Company bought the 131,000 cubic metres cargo to help cover peak demand during the summer months.

“This delivery will further strengthen the relationship between both companies over the long-term,” says Khalid bin Khalifa al-Thani, Qatargas’s chief executive officer.

About 70 per cent of Thailand’s gas comes from domestic production, and roughly 20 per cent is imported from Burma. Gas use is growing at a rate of around 5 per cent a year, which has led to difficulties in meeting peak demand.

The Map Ta Phut Terminal, South East Asia’s first LNG terminal will be fully commissioned in July.