Top Page > Press Release 2025 > MOL Energia Signs Long-time Charter Contracts for 2 Additional Newbuilding VLECs to SCG Chemicals, leading integrated chemical player in ASEAN - Latest Deal Brings Total to 5 Vessels -

MOL Energia Signs Long-time Charter Contracts for 2 Additional Newbuilding VLECs to SCG Chemicals, leading integrated chemical player in ASEAN
- Latest Deal Brings Total to 5 Vessels -

March 18, 2025

TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto) today announced that on March 17, its group Company MOL Energia Pte. Ltd. (Managing Director: Miki Ogura; Headquarters: Singapore), signed long-term charter contracts with SCG Chemicals (SCGC; Head Office: Thailand), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Siam Cement Group (SCG), a leading integrated chemical player in ASEAN, for two very large ethane carriers (VLECs, Note 1), in addition to three vessels already contracted on January 24(Note 2).

Of the approximately 90 dedicated liquefied ethane carriers currently in service or on order worldwide, this deal will bring the number of VLECs managed and operated by the MOL Group to 14.

CG rendering of the vessel (Courtesy Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.)

Samsung Heavy Industries Co. in South Korea will build two more 100,000m3 VLECs for delivery in 2028, along with the vessels contracted in January. The vessels are equipped with ethane dual-fuel propulsion engines, which reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides compared to vessels that run on conventional fuel oil.

With the conclusion of this contract, the MOL Group will own a total of five newly built dedicated liquefied ethane carriers serving SCGC, and the group will be responsible for transporting all of the ethane used at SCGC's petrochemical plants in Vietnam. Through the safe operation of these VLECs, the MOL Group will help strengthen the competitiveness of Vietnam's petrochemical industry and boost regional economic growth.

The group will continue to provide safe, reliable ocean shipping services by leveraging its advanced safe operation management system developed over decades of experience in the transport of liquefied gases, including LNG, to meet the demand for ethane transport, which is expected to keep expanding. In addition, as a global social infrastructure group, the MOL Group will leverage its overseas network to accumulate long-term stable profits as stated in its group management plan BLUE ACTION 2035 and achieve business development and expansion in line with its regional strategies.

(Note 1) A VLEC is a vessel with a cargo capacity of approximately 80,000m3 or more, specially designed to transport liquefied ethane at about minus 92 degrees Celsius.
Ethane is the second most abundant component of natural gas after methane. Ethane accounts for about 5%-20% of natural gas, although its content depends on the gas field. It is used as a raw material for refining ethylene, a basic chemical, with low greenhouse gas emissions.

(Note 2) Please refer to the January 24, 2025, press release: MOL Group Signs Long-term Charter for 3 Very Large Liquified Ethane Carriers to Serve SCG Chemicals, Thailand's Largest Petrochemical Company - Expanding the World's Largest Fleet as a Leading Company in the Liquefied Ethane Carrier Business -

[Outline of the vessels]

Main dimensions LOA: 230m, Breadth: 36.6m, Draft: 11.9m
Cargo tank/capacity GTT Mark II membrane/100,000m3
Propulsion System Dual Fuel (ethane and oil) Diesel Engine
Shipyard Samsung Heavy Industries Geoje Shipyard
Delivery Early 2028

[Outline of SCGC]

Company name SCG Chemicals Public Co., Ltd
Representative President and CEO Sakchai Patiparnpreechavud
About Us SCG Chemicals or SCGC is a leading integrated chemical player in ASEAN with strategic bases in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand, offering a full range of petrochemical products ranging from upstream production of olefins to downstream production of 3 main plastics resins: polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride. SCGC focuses on inventing "Innovation That's Real" to drive the ASEAN economy and elevate the quality of life in accordance with ESG and circular economy. SCGC develops technology and innovation toward HVAs in infrastructure, consumable packaging, automotive, health and well-being, and energy solutions, while ensuring sustainable environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.scgchemicals.com.

MOL Group 5 Sustainability Issues
MOL Group identifies "Sustainability Issues" (Materiality) as our key issues for sustainable growth with society through realization of the Group Vision.
We anticipate this initiative to contribute especially to the realization of "Safety & Value -Provide added value through safe transportation and our social infrastructure business-", "Environment -Conservation for Marine and global environment-" and "Innovation -Innovation for development in marine technology-."