Myanmar LNG import terminal back on table

Growing appetite for LNG reinvigorates discussions between China and Myanmar, but civil war may prevent talk becoming action

China and Myanmar have renewed talks over a long-mooted proposal to develop an LNG import terminal in the Beijing-aligned Southeast Asian republic, but not all experts are convinced the project is closer to materialising after being floated more than a decade ago. In a meeting in Myanmar’s capital of Naypyidaw in early January, China's ambassador to the country and the military junta’s energy minister U Ko Ko Lwin discussed the “potential for swiftly collaborating” to build LNG terminals in Myanmar in light of rising gas demand in both countries. The ambassador and minister also exchanged views on exploring the feasibility of fully utilising two pipelines that carry crude oil and gas from th