Brazil's state-controlled oil company Petrobras has received the first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) cargo at its new facility in Guanabara Bay.

The LNG facility is Brazil's second LNG regasification terminal and an integral part of the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), which hopes to boost the country's economic growth, the company said.

The first LNG terminal at Pecém Port also belongs to Petrobras.

The two terminals mark Petrobras’ debut in the international LNG market, ensuring new sources of natural gas supply to Brazil, Petrobras added.

The $366m facility will mainly supply thermoelectric plants in south-eastern Brazil during peak periods.

An increasing interest has been seen by the shipping industry in the use of LNG.

Classification society Germanischer Lloyd has been promoting the use of LNG by ships, saying it is both technically viable and economically feasible.

"LNG propulsion would produce no sulphur emissions and 20% less CO2 (carbon dioxide)," it said.

Earlier this year, Bharati Shipyard advised that LNG powered ships would cost owners 20% more, but that in the long run that would be offset by a reduction in bunker costs and a reduction in harmful emissions.

Bharti is currently developing two RoRo (Roll on-Roll off) vessels for Norway-based Sea-Cargo to run on LNG.

Johan Algell, a naval architect from ship design company FKAB, has raised concerns that marine engines using LNG could release more methane into the atmosphere.