Qatar's first cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been released bound for China to PetroChina's newly-commissioned LNG receiving terminal at Rudong in Jiangsu province.

The delivery, made on Saturday onboard the Q-Max vessel Bu Samra, was part of the long-term contract signed between state-run Qatar Liquefied Gas Company (Qatargas) and Shell Western LNG B.V. in 2008 for Qatar to supply China with LNG.

The agreement further contained that Qatar will supply PetroChina 3 million tonnes of LNG per year over 25 years.

Qatargas' Q-Max LNG carrier is a sea-going vessel capable of delivering up to 266,000 cubic metres of LNG onboard, compared to conventional carriers whose holding capacity ranges from only 135,000-177,000 cubic metres. Qatargas currently charters 13 Q-Max vessels in its fleet.

Its Q-Max LNG carriers are the largest LNG carriers in the world.

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