BPCL Plans to Bring 1mn mt/yr of Mozambican LNG to India

Indian state-owned BPCL plans to bring 1mn metric tons/year of LNG to India from Mozambique, a company official told the newspaper Mint February 12.

The Anadarko-operated Mozambique LNG project might be Mozambique's first onshore LNG development, initially consisting of two LNG trains with total nameplate capacity of 12.88mn mt/yr to support the development of the Golfinho/Atum fields entirely within Offshore Area 1. A final investment decision for the project is expected in the first half of this year.

The Eni-ExxonMobil led project, Rovuma LNG, is selling its output through its partners, rather than lining up external offtakers to secure financing, so it could in theory take a final investment decision now.

Anadarko Mozambique Area 1, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anadarko, operates Offshore Area 1 with a 26.5% working interest. BPRL, a subsidiary of BPCL, with 10% interest is one of the co-venturers in the project. Mozambique LNG1 Company is the jointly owned sales entity of the Mozambique Area 1 co-venturers.

Recently, Mozambique LNG1 Company signed sale and purchase agreements to supply Mozambican LNG to Shell, Tokyo Gas and Centrica. It also signed a supply agreement with China's Cnooc. 

"BPCL will sign a sales and purchase agreement with Mozambique LNG1 Company to bring the gas to India. BPRL holds 10% stake in Mozambique LNG1 company which was formed to market the gas," the company official told the newspaper.

Last month, Mint had reported that BPCL might revive its plan to build an LNG import terminal, with initial capacity of 1-3mn metric tons/year that might be expanded to 5mn mt/yr. With demand for gas rising in India, BPCL is planning an aggressive expansion.