Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Co, the part of state-owned energy company Petrobangla that oversees LNG supplies, on Jan. 3 requested interest from potential terminal developers for a land-based LNG regasification terminal at Matarbari in the Cox's Bazar district of southern Bangladesh. The initial EOIs were supposed to be due by March 20 but the companies hoping to take part asked for more time.

"The deadline for submission will be extended by three months as potential developers sought more time," one of the sources said.

The EOI is for the design, engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of a land-based terminal that can handle 7.5 million tonnes per year of LNG, including receiving, unloading, storage and re-gasification facilities.

The project is expected to be built on a build-own-operate basis for 20 years, with ownership then transferred to the Bangladeshi government or a company nominated by the government at no cost.

"We are getting huge response from companies," the second source said, adding that companies from Japan, South Korea and India have indicated their interest.

The onshore terminal, which can be expanded to 15 million tonnes per year in the future, is part of Bangladesh's strategy to develop its gas sector with private companies, according to the document.

The project developer will be required to arrange the necessary financing.

Bangladesh began importing LNG from Qatar on a regular basis in last year through the country's first floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU).

It has scrapped plans to build additional floating LNG import terminals after its second FSRU comes online.