India’s March LNG imports rise 16.8 pct

India’s imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) rose 16.8 percent in March on a yearly basis, following a drop in February, according to the latest data from oil ministry’s Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC).

India imported 2.51 billion cubic meters of LNG or about 1.86 million tonnes last month.

The costs of these imports were at $0.9 billion compared to $0.6 billion in March last year, the PPAC data shows.

India’s domestic natural gas production rose 1.2 percent to 2.78 Bcm.

In the April-March period, India imported 26.4 Bcm or about 19.55 million tonnes of LNG, a rise of 7.1 percent on the year.

LNG imports for the financial year 2017-18 were the highest ever for India, PPAC said.

India 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