India considering LNG import from Canada

India is considering importing liquefied natural gas from Canada towards meeting its requirements, the petroleum ministry said on Tuesday, following the second India-Canada Ministerial Energy Dialogue in Calgary.

Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met Canadian Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford to discuss enhancing energy cooperation between the two countries, a statement said.

"Canada could potentially supply a significant amount of the 44 billion cubic metres of natural gas that India is forecast to import annually by 2025," the ministry said.

The areas of cooperation discussed at the meeting on Sunday included oil, natural gas, clean energy, power transmission and skill development, the statement added.

State-run oil marketer Indian Oil Corp has taken a 10 percent stake in an integrated LNG project - the Pacific NorthWest LNG proposed at Lelu Island, British Columbia, the ministry said.

"India and Canada share common values and ideals and believe in long-term sustained partnerships. Our energy cooperation is steadily growing but the potential is much higher - Let's convert the potential into reality," the statement quoted Pradhan as saying at the meeting.

Rickford said: "Canada's growing energy relationship with India is helping create jobs and long-term prosperity for both of our countries."

"The ministers discussed opportunities to increase Indian participation in mining and oil sands activities, to grow Canadian investments in India's energy infrastructure and further technical collaboration in the areas of clean energy technologies, including solar, wind, power transmission and carbon capture and storage," the statement said.

Both also highlighted Canada and India's growing energy partnership, by strengthening government and business relationships, to help create jobs and long-term economic prosperity for both countries.

Both also agreed to work together to enhance skill development and share knowledge to accelerate the adoption of clean energy technologies.

The third India-Canada Ministerial Energy Dialogue will be held in India in 2016.