Report: India plans to build 11 LNG import terminals

India is reportedly planning to add 11 more liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals as the country is boosting the share of gas in its energy mix.

The country currently imports LNG via four facilities, namely Petronet’s Dahej and Kochi LNG terminals, Shell’s Hazira plant, and the Dabhol terminal operated by Ratnagiri Gas and Power. It imported almost 20 million tonnes last year.

India plans to more than double the share of natural gas in its energy mix to 15 percent by 2022 from about 6.5 percent now.

To realize this plan, over the next seven years the government plans to raise regasification capacity to 70 million tonnes per year, Reuters reported on Wednesday citing Narendra Taneja, spokesman for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as saying.

India would eventually require even more than 15 LNG import terminals to meet its demand, the report said.

The 70 million-tonnes-a-year target a few years later would mean India would need to import more than China took last year via both pipelines and tankers, and it would put India close to what top importer Japan currently buys.

As part of its drive to reduce pollution, Taneja said the government was encouraging Indian railway companies and LNG importers to look at fuelling trains by LNG instead of diesel.

India also wants to become a hub for supplying ships that run on LNG, with plans to build more facilities like a fuelling station at Kochi port, Taneja said.

LNG World News Staff