Qatar to consider India's demand for additional LNG

In a significant development, Qatar today agreed to look into India's demand for an additional 5 million tonnes a year of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet its growing energy needs.

"Qatar has agreed to consider to meet Indian demand for supplying LNG on a long term basis," an official statement issued after a meeting between the Petroleum Minister Murli Deora and Qatar's Energy Minister Abdulla Bin Ahmed Al-Attiyah in Doha today.

Deora is on a visit to Doha to discuss LNG supplies. "During the meeting India sought long term LNG supplies for Dahej and Kochi terminals of Petronet LNG Ltd and Dabhol terminal of GAIL," it said. Attiyah agreed to consider the request of Indian side for LNG supplies.

Attiyah advised the CEOs of Rasgas and other petroleum companies in Qatar to hold separate discussions with India's ONGC, IOC, GAIL & Petronet LNG to chalk out plans for the supply of up to 5 million tonnes a year of LNG to India on long-term basis.

"It was agreed by both the sides to have further discussions," it said.

Sources said Deora pitched for a long-term LNG supply at either Petronet LNG's terminal or the import facility adjacent to the beleaguered Dabhol power plant in Maharasthra.