CTCI Conquering the Challenge of Thailand’s Largest LNG Receiving Terminal
—the NongFab LNG Terminal EPC Project

— Yu-Jun, Lin, Project Engineer, Group Engineering Business (GEB), CTCI

With the global trend for net-zero emissions by 2050, switching from coal to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for power generation has become a crucial transition policy in the energy transformation efforts of many countries. Moreover, LNG receiving terminal are critical infrastructures to advancing natural gas power generation. According to statistics from the International Energy Agency (IEA), the number of countries with LNG receiving terminal increased from 9 to 42 between the year 2000 to 2020, indicating strong demand and significant business opportunities in the coming years.

The owner of this project is PTT LNG Company Limited (PTTLNG), a subsidiary of Thailand's national oil company, the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT). This project, located in the Rayong industrial area, is PTTLNG's second LNG receiving terminal and is considered a major national infrastructure in Thailand. The project includes two LNG storage tanks with a capacity of 250,000 cubic meters each (the largest in Thailand and the second largest in the world), a 6-kilometer long trestle loading terminal facility (the longest trestle in the LNG industry), and an eco-friendly administration building co-existing with a swamp park.

CTCI, a leading engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) project contractor in Taiwan and one of the top 100 globally, has established over 50 locations in more than 10 countries globally. This includes CTCI Thailand, which is established since 1987 and now one of the most important international operation base of the Group.

CTCI's extensive international experience and EPC expertise facilitate collaboration with joint venture partners, handling large-scale and complex international projects with flexibility and commitment, earning owner’s trust, and demonstrating CTCI’s values of “Professionalism, Integrity, Teamwork, and Innovation”.

Our Reliable Team

Strong Collaboration with Renowned Italian Engineering Company, Saipem

This project marks the first collaboration between CTCI and the internationally renowned Italian engineering company Saipem. Saipem boasts extensive experience and excellent technical capabilities in the global energy sector, while CTCI is Taiwan's largest EPC contractor with extensive experience and proven track records in LNG receiving terminal projects. The two parties formed the SPCCJV company and successfully secured the bid.

Leveraging CTCI's wealth of international project management experience and the project team's relentless commitment, this project not only overcame the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic during execution but also achieved early completion of gas sendouts in July 2022, one month ahead of schedule. This met Thailand's government's early gas sendouttarget. Also, the project completed terminal performance acceptance in November of the same year, smoothly transitioning to commercial operation under the owner. Currently, the LNG plant processes 7.5 million tons of natural gas annually, marking a significant milestone in Thailand's energy policy.

Aerial Photo of PTTLNG NongFab LNG Storage Tanks

Commissioning Meeting with Thai Owner

Mission Accomplished with Early Completion

This project was executed during the COVID-19 outbreak. The pandemic has rapidly spread since the first confirmed case in Thailand in January 2020. As a result, the Thai government implemented various pandemic control measures, including comprehensive quarantine measures and halting international flights, severely impacting project progress and manpower scheduling. At that time, the Thai government even requested an early completion and sendouts, posing many challenges to the project team.

However, the CTCI team, adhering to the spirit of mission accomplishment, pooled their efforts and resources, while taking a series of pandemic prevention measures. The team not only continued working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic without interruption but also ensured no casualties or accidents within CTCI's scope of responsibility, guaranteeing the health and safety of personnel at the construction site. Finally, the project achieved early sendouts in July 2022, establishing an excellent reputation and credibility in the industry. This success also laid the foundation for CTCI’s expansion in the Thai market and increased influence in the Southeast Asian region.

CTCI and Saipem's Beach Cleaning Event

Project Highlights

Building Thailand's Iconic LNG Receiving Terminal to Promote Energy Diversification

The construction of this project stems from Thailand's Power Development Plan (PDP). The Thai government aims to increase natural gas imports to 30 million metric tons per annum (MMTPA) by 2037 to achieve national energy diversification, promote sustainable development, and play a significant role as an energy hub in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Whether from the perspective of domestic energy supply in Thailand or the regional energy market, the impact of this project is profound.

Valuing Biodiversity and Coexisting with the Swamp Park

The original site of this project is located in a natural ecological swamp area. Therefore, the design of the administration building, has preserved the native swamp area as an ecological detention pond. This not only reduces the surface runoff of surrounding roads but also mitigates the drainage demand during heavy rains in the rainy season, reducing downstream floods and erosion. Moreover, the ecological detention pond allows the harmonious coexistence of the local native ecosystem, making the LNG receiving terminal a symbiotic entity with the swamp park.

During the construction process, the CTCI team is committed to maintaining the original ecological system of the swamp area, ensuring that biodiversity is not affected. The park is open to the public on holidays, becoming a new recreational area while balancing environmental protection and social responsibility.

Natural sand detention basin next to the Administration Building

Innovative Engineering Technology

Reusing Cold Energy to Reduce Carbon Emissions

In response to the owner’s emphasis on ESG issues, this project utilizes the cold energy generated from LNG vaporization in order to reduce carbon emission.carbon reduction benefits. By supplying cold energy to the air conditioning system and the Gas Turbine Generator (GTG) for intake air cooling, the project saves 71 million kWh of electricity annually, resulting in a reduction of 37,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The specific approach involves passing the cooling water through a cooling water pump, sending it to the intermediate fluid vaporizer (IFV), and then directing it to the cold energy usage end. Subsequently, the cooled water (at a temperature of approximately 10˚C - 13˚C) from the usage end is redirected to the suction end of the cooling water pump, which can be used for the air conditioning of the administration building. The project also created a regenerative cold cycle greenhouse, cultivating indoor landscape plantings such as tulips. With Thailand's tropical climate, this achievement is particularly impressive.

The plants of the administration building grow in regenerative cold cycle greenhouses

Conclusions

The execution of this project helps Thai government in achieving its vision of energy diversification. Taking into account biodiversity issues, the designs of the project are able to reduce energy consumption and the carbon footprint in later operational stages through the reuse of cold energy. The CTCI team has successfully created an engineering project that combines innovation and sustainability, making a concrete contribution to local sustainable development and further realizing the ESG vision of being a “Guardian of Sustainable Earth”

Message from the Owner

We commend CTCI's impressive display of tireless and dedicated efforts throughout the PTTLNG NongFab project. Their expertise and unwavering commitment were instrumental in achieving Early Gas Send Out (EGSO) successfully. CTCI's leadership ensured a smooth and efficient project execution, while their commitment to reliability gave us complete confidence in the project's outcome. We look forward to collaborating with CTCI on future endeavors.

--Mr. Rattikool Piyavongwanich, Managing Director of PTTLNG