Qatar Ready to Supply More LNG to India: QP

Qatar is ready to supply more LNG to India to meets its demand for clean energy, Qatar Petroleum CEO Saad Sherida Al Kaabi told The Peninsula.

“India is a very important country for us, especially with regard to our growing LNG production, and India’s rising demand for energy. We are always open to enhance cooperation to meet its energy requirements,” Al Kaabi said, the newspaper reported June 6.

Qatar is India’s biggest LNG supplier but in recent years New Delhi has diversified its supply base and now has long-term contracts with US, Australia and Russia as well. In March, India received the first LNG cargo from US under a long-term deal and maiden Gazprom cargo arrived this week. India is focusing on increasing the share of gas in energy mix from 7% to 15% in coming years and will need more imported LNG.

Al Kaabi was in India recently and held talks with Indian oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan. “A few months ago I visited India and have had meetings with top officials of all the important Indian companies that are buying LNG. We have had discussions on these issues, and we are looking forward to increase the level of cooperation to satisfy India’s growing LNG demand,” he said.