An oil company backed by global commodities giant Trafigura has opened a $92 million oil and gas terminal in Myanmar to cash in on growing energy demand from the fast-expanding economy.
The terminal is expected to increase energy imports after a disappointing decline in foreign investment under the new democratic government that took office in March last year.
Built by Puma Energy and its local partner Asia Sun, the terminal officially opened for business over the weekend at the port of Thilwa outside Yangon, Myanmar's commercial capital.
Puma Energy Asia Sun general manager David Holden said it would cut import costs on products ranging from jet fuel to petrol and bitumen, used to make roads.
"Myanmar is where the need is and Myanmar is what drove the investment," he told AFP on Monday, estimating fuel demand may grow around five percent annually in  coming years.
Foreign investment in Myanmar initially surged as the country began overhauling its economy after almost half a century of military rule ended in 2011. 
But a lack of clarity on the new government's economic policies and a backlog of approvals contributed to a 30 percent slump in investment in the financial year through March.
The biggest fall was in the oil and gas sector, which is controlled by state-owned Myanma Oil & Gas Enterprise.
But last month China launched a crude oil pipeline linking its southeastern province of Yunnan to the Bay of Bengal on Myanmar's west coast, after years of delays.
Beijing, which helped shield Myanmar's former junta from international sanctions, has led the way in the race to exploit the country's lucrative energy and gem reserves.
Puma Energy, headquartered in Singapore, is one of three foreign firms in the final round of bidding to run part of Myanmar's petrol distribution market along with the Ministry of Energy.
It also wants a licence to operate petrol stations and supply them independently after new investment laws loosened restrictions for foreign companies.
Holden said the company would focus on the corridor between Yangon and Mandalay, where he estimated retail sales could reach some 1.5 billion litres of fuel a year.
© AFP