GE Oil and Gas, a unit of General Electric Co, has secured a $150 million (RM477 million) deal to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology to Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas).

The Petronas LNG Train 9 project will add 3.6 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to the existing 25.7 mtpa production capacity at the Petronas LNG Complex in Bintulu, Sarawak.

Malaysia is the world's second largest exporter of LNG.

GE vice-president Prady Iyyanki said the company would supply proven, advanced turbo-compression technology to the Bintulu complex.

"Train 9 of the Petronas LNG complex will utilise the APCI Split MR liquefication process technology," he said at a breakfast talk hosted by the company, held on the sidelines of the World Gas Conference, here, yesterday.

As part of the contract, he said GE was providing a fully integrated solution for Train 9, including GE Oil and Gas turbo-compression equipment and variable speed drive systems from GE's Power Conversion business.

He said the scope of GE's supply included a low- and medium-pressure mixed refrigerant package and a propane and high pressure mixed refrigerant package, each driven by a frame 7EA gas turbine, with 13MW induction motor running at 3,600 rpm and VSI technology variable speed drive systems.

"The compression trains are vital elements of the liquefication process, which cools natural gas to liquid state. The GE technology we are providing for the Train 9 project is well-proven and is used across a wide range of LNG projects, including such landmark projects in Asia Pacific region as Gorgon and Ichthys," he said.

Asked how soon the Train 9 project would be completed, Prady said the project could take almost 18 months, but stressed that the project was on schedule.

"It depends on Petronas (on when it wants to start operate the Train 9)."

Elaborating, he said the Train 9 project built on the strong collaboration existing between Petronas and GE, and was part of global frame agreement that had existed since 2009.

"The addition of Train 9 to the Bintulu complex will increase the flexibility of Petronas' LNG portfolio, while also supporting the overall growth of the region's natural gas industry," he said.

Petronas group corporate affairs division senior general manager Datuk Mohammed Medan Abdullah concurred with Prady, saying that it was important for Petronas to have a long-term relationship with its partners to ensure the success of any projects as well as sustain supply.

"We have to bear in mind that this is a long-term business and in such a business, we need to have long-term relationships with our partners.

The Petronas LNG complex in Bintulu is the world's largest integrated LNG production facilities at a single location, consisting three subsidiaries, namely Malaysia LNG Sdn Bhd, MLNG Dua Sdn Bhd and MLNG Tiga Sdn Bhd.

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