Angola’s state-controlled energy company Sonangol is moving to grow its gas shipping exposure, placing an order for a new LNG carrier in South Korea. HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries has secured the contract to build a 174,000 cu m unit, according to a regulatory filing by the yard. The deal is valued at KRW357.5bn ($245m), with delivery scheduled by June 2028. The newbuilding will add a single unit to Sonangol’s gas carrier fleet, which currently stands at five vessels. Three of those LNG carriers were built in 2011 by Hanwha Ocean, formerly Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, with the rest of the group’s owned tonnage largely made up of crude and product tankers. For Sonangol, the move underlines a steady push to build out LNG-related shipping capacity as Angola looks to strengthen its position in gas exports and downstream logistics. The contract also highlights continuity in Sonangol’s relationship with Korean yards. After years of LNG fleet sourcing from Hanwha Ocean, the latest order at HD Hyundai Samho keeps Angola’s LNG tonnage tied to South Korea’s shipbuilding base — a region that has long been a global leader in LNG carrier construction and also Sonangol’s go-to place for suezmax tanker newbuilds. South Korean yards have remained busy on LNG carrier newbuildings front. Seapeak has ordered two LNG carriers at Samsung Heavy Industries, while Purus returned to the yard with a pair of LNG newbuildings valued at about $503m. Alpha Gas has also resurfaced in the newbuilding market with an order for two LNG carriers at Hanwha Ocean.Most recently, Samsung Heavy Industries disclosed a $507.6m contract for two LNG carriers for a Bermuda-based owner, with brokers linking the deal to JP Morgan-backed Global Meridian Holdings. The vessels are due for delivery in early 2029. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsAngola South Korea