At least three shipowners have been shortlisted to supply LNG carriers to Polish importer Polskie Gor­n­ic­two Naftowe i Gazownictwo (PGNiG) after a tender.

Those following the business named John Angelicoussis-led ­Maran Gas Maritime, South ­Korea’s­ Hyundai LNG Shipping and Knutsen OAS Shipping of Norway as the companies that remain in the process.

They said PGNiG appears to be sticking with its schedule to make a decision on a vessel provider in the first half of this year.

PGNiG emerged in the market in the fourth quarter last year, seeking two firm LNG carriers for ­delivery in the second half of 2022.

The requirement is understood to include options for other ships that could bump up the total to eight, depending on the volumes of LNG the company has bought.

In its original enquiry to owners, PGNiG said that aside from two firm LNG carriers, it will need a further two to four in 2023 and another pair in 2024.

Shipowners submitted initial offers last July before a number of pre-qualified candidates received the full tender documents in ­October.

PGNiG has left the door open to owners submitting offers on newbuildings and existing ships.

It has been a big spender on LNG in the past 18 months, signing up 7.45 million tonnes per annum of additional supply from the US as it diversifies away from its dependence on Russian pipeline gas and shifts into global trading.

The company is making half of its purchases from Venture Global LNG, buying 1 mtpa from its recently sanctioned Calcasieu Pass project in Louisiana, plus 2.5 mtpa from its second Louisiana project, Plaquemines LNG, which is scheduled for a 2023 start-up.

In addition, PGNiG has signed up to purchase volumes from US liquefaction developers Sempra LNG and Cheniere Energy.

This week, Poland cemented its plans to extend its LNG import infrastructure.

Polskie LNG, operator of the country’s lone land-based LNG ­terminal at Swinoujscie, signed a deal with domestic transmission network operator Gaz-System to boost regasification capacity at the facility by 50%.

A third 180,000-cbm storage tank is being added as part of the expansion, along with LNG-to-rail transshipment, container loading facilities and a jetty for bunkering and transshipment services.

Poland is also pursuing plans to install a floating storage and regasification unit off Gdansk from 2025.