In a statement the state-run company said, “[We have] issued a short-term tender seeking 1.5 million metric tons of LNG per year for delivery over the October-December winter months for four years starting in late 2004.”

“KOGAS is targeting to award the tender by the end of September,” added the firm.

The deal, once concluded, will be the second such winter deliveries agreement. KOGAS currently has an existing seven-year deal with Australian LNG which supplies 500,000 metric tonnes per annum, although the company does have another deal with Malaysia LNG Tiga, which sees 80% of a 1.5 million metric ton per annum shipment arriving during the winter months.