India’s July LNG imports edge up

India’s liquefied natural gas imports during the month of July edged up 6 per cent compared to the corresponding month in 2019.

Imported volumes reached 2.96 billion cubic meters in July 2020, which compares to 2.79 billion cubic meters imported in July 2019.

The cumulative import of 9.96 billion cubic meters for the current year till July 2020 was lower by 7.7 per cent compared with 10.79 billion cubic meters imported in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The value of July LNG imports slipped to $0.5 billion compared to $0.8 billion in the same month last year, data from the oil ministry’s Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell shows.

The value of cumulative LNG imports slipped from $3.2 billion in the previous year to $1.9 billion for the current year until July.

Looking at India’s domestic natural gas production, it dropped 10 per cent last month to 2.44 billion cubic meters.

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

According to PPAC, utilization of these facilities picked up during the month under review. Petronet LNG’s Dahej LNG terminal operated at 80.7 per cent capacity.

PPAC data shows that Shell’s 5 mtpa Hazira LNG terminal operated at 87.8 per cent capacity while the Dabhol LNG facility operated at 39.3 per cent.

Kochi LNG facility was at 14.3 per cent, Indian Oil’s Ennore facility operated at 8 per cent while GSPC’s Mundra plant operated at 29.3 per cent capacity.