Dutch oil and petrochemical storage group Vopak has joined a throng of firms wanting to cash in on Victoria’s looming gas shortage with a proposal to build an LNG import terminal in which it says two “reputable” customers have expressed interest.

Vopak Australia’s managing director, Fulco van Geuns, said he was undaunted by the five other companies vying to set up import terminals in southeast Australia. Two are already proposed in Victoria – AGL Energy’s $250 million Cribb Point project and Viva Energy’s proposal to convert  its Geelong refinery for LNG import.