Asia's LNG Flagship Project Shut Down Amidst Plumes of Black Smoke

Brunei: The operations of the Brunei LNG plant were halted due to the occurrence of black smoke and flaring at Lumut in Brunei Darussalam. As the investigation is underway, the 7.2 million tonnes per annum plant remains offline.

At the Brunei LNG plant in Lumut, a workforce of over 500 people oversees the annual pumping of 6.7 million tonnes of liquefied gas into tankers bound for the open ocean. Originally designed for a 20-year supply commitment, the 130-hectare complex has undergone a comprehensive rejuvenation in the last five years, at a cost exceeding B$500 million. This extensive overhaul included refurbishing all major components of the plant - including the five liquefaction trains and associated facilities - and constructing two new storage tanks and a loading jetty.

The plant's energy consumption is comparable to that of a 300 MW power station, which is sufficient to power the entire country of Brunei Darussalam. The plant employs nine steam boilers which drive the turbine compressor and generator turbines. Approximately 9% of the plant's total intake comes from fuel gas-fired boilers. Additionally, the plant recycles LNG that vaporizes during storage and loading by compressing it and adding it to the fuel gas supply.

In 1987, a cogeneration plant was established in Lumut through a collaboration between the Government, Brunei Shell Petroleum, and Brunei LNG. The plant harnesses gas from the eastern offshore fields to provide power for domestic and industrial consumption in Seria and Kuala Belait. Additionally, seven waste heat boilers are utilized to generate steam for the LNG plant, thereby improving its efficiency. This project is a testament to the effectiveness of cooperation and provides a cost-effective and reliable source of power.

According to the project proponent, there was a sighting of black smoke and flaring accompanied by some noise in an unexplained incident. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. On 12th June, Brunei LNG experienced a plant shutdown, which is currently being investigated to determine the root causes. The operating company has already developed and executed a comprehensive restart plan, as stated in their official statement.

According to the operator, Brunei LNG, there is no danger to the general public from their current activity. Their designated teams are working diligently to restore normal plant operations in a safe manner. It is unknown when the flagship Brunei LNG facility, which has a capacity of 7.2 million tonnes per annum, will resume operations. The ownership of this liquefaction facility is shared between the government of Brunei, UK's supermajor Shell and Japan's Mitsubishi.

Brunei Darussalam's Western Pacific liquefied natural gas project commenced its commercial operations in 1972. The project delivers five million tpa of LNG to long-term customers in Japan and North Asia, out of the total 6.7 million tpa of export cargoes. Presently, natural gas serves as Brunei Darussalam's primary revenue source.