India’s May LNG imports rise slightly

India’s LNG imports in May increased by 0.5 per cent following a decline in April due to coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

India started easing the restrictions, which halted economic activity and pushed down demand, in the second part of May and plans to end the lockdown on June 31.

The country imported 2.38 billion cubic meters of LNG last month or about 1.8 million tonnes, data from the oil ministry’s Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell shows.

The value of May LNG imports eased to $0.5 billion compared to $0.7 billion in the same month last year.

Looking at India’s domestic natural gas production, it dropped 16 per cent last month to 2.30 billion cubic meters.

To remind, India’s LNG imports during the fiscal year ending March 2020 rose 17.2 per cent year-on-year to 33.7 billion cubic meters or about 25 million tonnes.

India currently imports chilled fuel via six LNG import terminals with a combined capacity of 42.5 million tonnes.

According to PPAC, utilzation of these facilities nosedived in April due to corona restrictions with Petronet LNG’s 17.5 mtpa Dahej terminal operating at only 3 per cent capacity.

PPAC data shows that Shell’s 5 mtpa Hazira LNG terminal operated at 5.5 per cent capacity while Indian Oil’s 5 mtpa Ennore facility operated at 7 per cent capacity in April.