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Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions (Total) and Pavilion Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pavilion Energy, on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on LNG bunkering cooperation in Singapore.

Under the terms of the MoU, Pavilion Gas will supply LNG as a bunker fuel to Total for LNG deliveries to its marine fuel customers in the port of Singapore. Both parties say they may also explore further cooperation in logistics for LNG bunkering activities.

The MoU was signed by Patrick Pouyanne, chairman and CEO of Total, and Seah Moon Ming, CEO of Pavilion Energy and Pavilion Gas, on the sidelines of the Gastech 2017 event in Tokyo, Japan.

In 2016, Pavilion Gas was awarded an LNG bunker supplier licence by the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). Pavilion Gas was also appointed by the Singapore Energy Market Authority (EMA) as an LNG importer for Singapore.

Last September, Pavilion's CEO announced that the company was teaming up with ExxonMobil to carry out LNG bunkering at the port of Singapore. Then, in November, Pavilion signed an MoU with Harley Marine, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Mitsui & Co. to jointly participate in the MPA's LNG bunkering pilot programme.

Total is a global gas player, involved across the entire LNG chain, from extracting natural gas onshore and offshore to processing plants where it is liquefied, stored and shipped in a fleet of specially designed carriers to regasification terminals for delivery to business customers.

According to the MPA's list of bunker suppliers by volume sold in 2016, Total Marine Fuels Pte Ltd was ranked 17th in a list of 58 suppliers at the world's biggest bunker port, up two places on the previous year.

Patrick Pouyanne said: "Our mission is to offer global and compliant solutions to our customers to meet the 2020 Global Cap requirements. Total has a long-established bunker activity and is also a strong worldwide LNG player, thus providing the required conditions to position the Group in the emerging LNG bunker market, where our ambition is to become a key player. In this context, developing a competitive worldwide LNG bunkering network will be key for the industry; securing access in the main hubs, such as Singapore, is part of our strategy. The MOU signed with Pavilion Gas is a real opportunity for Total to make further inroads in this promising new market."

Seah Moon Ming remarked: "Pavilion Energy views LNG bunkering as a future driver for LNG demand growth and welcomes this MOU with Total. Our role as an LNG bunker supplier is reinforced by the appointment of Pavilion Gas as an LNG importer in Singapore. The supply of LNG by Pavilion Gas as a bunker fuel in the port of Singapore supports Singapore's position as a leading bunkering port, and contributes towards establishing a global LNG bunkering ecosystem. Pavilion Energy is pleased to collaborate with industry partners to build a robust LNG bunkering hub in Singapore and the region."