NTPC keen to get LNG from Qatar by FY12

State-owned NTPC today said it hoped to get liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar by next financial year.

“We have showed interest in providing them equity in gas-based power projects in India and bringing LNG from there. Talks are going on regarding this. On Monday, our delegations had a meeting with the Qatar government. They are keen on the project and we expect it to be worked out before 2012-13, or may be by next financial year,” said Inderjit Kapoor, commercial director of NTPC, on the sidelines of a Confederation of Indian Industry meeting here.

The country’s biggest power generator is keen to get Qatar in Kayamkulum project as the Gulf nation would in return bring gas for the plant. “We may offer them stakes in projects at Kayamkulam in Kerala and Ratnagiri Gas and Power Pvt Ltd,” he said.

Regarding the company’s Bangladesh plans, he said, “Today, a meeting is going on in Delhi to decide on the implementation of Khulna project. It is expected to happen soon. The details of the deal like power sharing will be decided by the joint venture company between NTPC and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).”

The company has plans to build coal-based power plants at Khulna and Chittagong. Last month, NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Arup Roy Choudhury told Business Standard it would commence work on the 2x660-megawatts (Mw) Khulna plant, the company’s first overseas project, by May 2011. “For the second project at Chittagong, feasibility study is going on,” he had said.

Both India and Bangladesh had signed a MoU to form an equal joint venture between NTPC and BPDB to develop two power projects of about 1,320 Mw and during the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this year.