Malaysia's LNG loadings normal after fire at Bintulu complex

SINGAPORE, (Reuters) - Loadings of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Malaysia’s Bintulu export plant are normal after a fire broke out at the complex late last week, three industry sources said.

A fire broke out on the morning of Feb. 22 at a “sea cooling water outfall channel” that lies outside of plant process area at the LNG complex, Petronas said in a statement on Saturday.

The fire was put out within an hour and no one was injured, said Petronas, which operates the Bintulu plant.

LNG loadings were briefly disrupted during investigation of the fire but have now resumed, one of the sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

Petronas on Tuesday declined to comment on the loading disruption. The incident is still under investigation and the company will keep members of the media updated, Petronas said.

This follows minor glitches at the plant earlier this month that have since been resolved.

LNG exports from Malaysia are set to fall by almost 25 percent this month compared with January, shipping data from Refinitiv Eikon showed on Tuesday, though the data is not yet complete. (Reporting by Jessica Jaganathan; Additional reporting by Emily Chow in KUALA LUMPUR; Editing by Tom Hogue)