MPA expands multi-fuel hub with LNG licence round

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will issue eight new licences to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel in Singapore from 1 September 2026..

The move forms part of efforts to expand the port’s LNG bunkering capacity and support its development as a multi-fuel bunkering hub.

The licences will be awarded to Aramco Trading Singapore, Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific, PetroChina International (Singapore), Shell Eastern Trading, Sinopec Fuel Oil (Singapore), TotalEnergies Gas & Power Asia (TEGPA)-Sembcorp Fuels (Singapore) Joint Venture, and Vitol Bunkers (S).

The eight successful applicants were selected following an evaluation of their supply capabilities, commercial plans, operational experience and safety standards.

The MPA said the assessment also considered each applicant’s capabilities to monitor and mitigate methane slip, and to support the supply of methane-based alternatives with lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, including liquefied bio-methane and e-methane.

The licences will run for five years, from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2031, subject to licensees continuing to meet relevant licensing conditions. Licensees are required to provide end-to-end LNG bunkering services, covering fuel supply, storage, cargo transfer and delivery to vessels. Their issuance concludes a Call for Applications launched on 14 January 2026.

Alongside the licensing round, MPA and Enterprise Singapore, through the Singapore Standards Council, will upgrade the existing Technical Reference for LNG Bunkering (TR56) into a Singapore Standard (SS) in August 2026.

The new standard will strengthen safety requirements, bunkering procedures, custody transfer and crew competencies, and serve as a common industry reference for LNG bunkering operations in Singapore.