Iran has signed preliminary agreements with Korean, German and Chinese shipbuilders to construct high-tech liquefied natural gas tankers as the country pushes to join the club of LNG exporters, according to reports in Iranian media on Sunday.
“An MoU has been signed with a German company which possesses the technology to build LNG tankers, with preliminary accords also reached with several South Korean and Chinese firms,” Iran’s Press TV reported project in-charge Esmail Sadeqi as saying.
Under the plan, foreign shipbuilders would help Iran construct LNG carriers in the country’s shipyards on the coasts of the Persian Gulf, he said.
“The possibility of building LNG tankers and Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) exists in the country. Hence, we plan to pave the way for construction of LNG ships through cooperation with a foreign company,” he said.
LNG tankers are special carriers which super-cool the gas to minus 162 degrees Celsius for long-haul shipments.
Iran possesses the world’s largest proven gas reserves, with a potential to become a top producer.
The country plans to build a capacity to export 40 million metric tons of LNG a year.
