Samsung wins $1.2bn shipbuilding orders

SEOUL: South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries said Monday it had won orders totalling $1.2 billion for six liquefied natural gas carriers.

"The nuclear crisis in Japan will help trigger demand for alternative energy sources including liquefied natural gas," Samsung said, predicting booming demand from energy firms including Russia's Gazprom.

Under an 870-billion-won ($802 million) deal with British shipper Golar LNG Energy, the shipyard will deliver four natural gas carriers by the first half of 2014, Samsung said in a statement.

The shipbuilder also signed a deal worth 430 billion won (396 million dollars) to deliver two gas carriers to another company which was not identified.