Suez LNG signs deal

Suez LNG Trading SA of France has signed a 20-year contract with three Japanese firms for the transport of LNG from Yemen to the US and Europe.

Under the contract, Mitsui OSK Lines, Sumitomo Corp., and LNG Japan Corp. will establish a company to transport 700,000 tonnes/year of LNG over 20 years. The venture will lease a 154,200 cu m membrane LNG tanker, which is to be built by Imabari Shipbuilding in Japan for delivery in 2009. The tanker will have a transport capacity of about 90,000 tonnes of LNG.