Shell may import LNG cargo tomorrow

Shell India may import an LNG cargo from Australia tomorrow, after a gap of almost three months.

"Shell is likely to import the cargo from North West shelf project in Australia at ex-ship price of $9.06 per million British thermal unit (mmBtu)," industry sources said today.

However, the company spokesperson, when contacted declined to comment.

Shell had last imported LNG cargo at its Hazira Terminal in Gujarat on Oct 13, 2008 from Trinidad and Tobago at $20.5 per mmbtu. On the $9.06 per mmBtu import price, a five per cent custom duty will be levied, taking the landed cost to $9.4 per mmBtu.

Beyond this, $0.70-0.80 per mmBtu re-gasification charges would be levied, sources said, adding the LNG cargo in all probability have been bought by state-run gas utility GAIL India.

GAIL on Jan 1 had said that it had bought liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Shell India at $11.7 per mmBtu.

GAIL had bought 50 million standard cubic metres of regassified-LNG from Shell to plug the gap in supplies resulting from the shutdown of Petronet LNG's Dahej terminal, from January 7 to 12, company Director (Marketing) B C Tripathi had said.

"GAIL has procured a spot cargo from Shell to facilitate (an) optimal level of production by our power and fertiliser customers," Tripathi had said.

The company would supply the regassified-LNG from Shell to power and fertiliser units that have placed a demand on it during the Dahej shutdown period, at a $11.7 per mmBtu ex-terminal price, he said. This price does not include pipeline transportation cost, sales tax and marketing margin.