India’s December LNG imports climb 6.8 pct

India’s imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) rose in December on a yearly basis for the fourth consecutive month following a drop in August, according to the latest data from oil ministry’s Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC).

India imported 2.03 billion cubic meters of LNG or about 1.44 million mt last month, a rise of 6.8 percent as compared to December 2016.

The costs of these imports were at $0.7 billion compared to $0.5 billion in December last year, the PPAC data shows.

Domestic natural gas production continued to rise in December. India’s natural gas production increased 0.5 percent to 2.75 Bcm, PPAC said.

In the April-December period, India imported 19.38 Bcm or about 14.35 million mt of LNG, a rise of  3.4 percent on the year.

India is planning to increase the share of gas in its energy mix to 15 percent from around 6 percent, while also doubling regasification capacity in the next three years.

The country currently imports LNG via Petronet’s Dahej and Kochi LNG terminals, Shell’s Hazira plant, and the Dabhol terminal operated by Ratnagiri Gas and Power.

LNG World News Staff