Jordan's Nepco Tenders for 2018 LNG Imports

Jordan’s state power firm Nepco has tendered to buy up to 32 LNG cargoes for delivery during 2018.

Bidders may bid for one of more of the following options: 16 cargoes across the whole of 2018, 6 during January-April, 4 during May-August, and 6 during September-December.  Anyone choosing the first option must profile deliveries according to the latter three options.

The request for proposals, issued July 13, is for supply to the Aqaba import terminal.

The deadline for bidders to pay a bidding fee is July 27, but the bidder must by July 25 have submitted a signed LNG master sales agreement (MSA) to Nepco in an acceptable form. Bids must then be submitted by August 2 (1pm Jordanian time) and will be confirmed by 24 August.

Bidders are to propose a price formula, expressed in $/mn Btu, that is linked to Brent crude.

In emergency cases, Nepco reserves the right to request diversion to the nearby Ain Sokhna LNG terminal in Egypt, and in such cases expects its request not to be unreasonably rejected. A bid security of $1.4mn is required, plus proof of past LNG trading as detailed in the request for proposals.

From late 2019 onwards Nepco is to receive gas piped from Israel's Leviathan field under a 15-yr contract, which was deeply unpopular in Jordan.

In 2016 Jordan imported 3.06mn mt of LNG according to latest data from the International Group of LNG Importers, after awarding tenders that year to Shell, Switzerland-based trader Gunvor and Spain's Gas Natural. Jordan has the Golar Eskimo on long-term charter for use as a floating regas vessel (FSRU) until 3Q 2025. A jetty to pipe regas volumes from the FSRU was installed mid-2015 by Dutch contractor BAM.

Mark Smedley