Qatargas to supply LNG to Thailand's PTT

DOHA, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Qatargas said on Sunday it would supply 1 million tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas to Thailand's PTT PTT.BK as early as 2011.

"Qatargas ... has signed heads of agreement to supply 1 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas (LNG) under a long-term agreement to Thailand's PTT Public Company Ltd," Qatargas said in a statement.

The LNG would be supplied into the Bangkok LNG terminal when it becomes operational, which it said would was expected in 2011. It did not give further details.

"Thailand represents a new market for the LNG industry and Qatari LNG and further demonstrates our commitment to diversity of markets for our energy," Faisal al-Suwaidi, Qatargas chief executive, said in the statement.

Qatar plans to boost total production of LNG to 77 million tonnes per year in 2010, up from 31 million tonnes now. It is already the world's largest producer of LNG, which is gas chilled to liquid form for shipment.

Qatar has the world's third-largest reserves of natural gas after Russia and Iran. (Reporting by Inal Ersan; Editing by David Holmes)