India seeks more gas from Qatar

New Delhi -- India has sought 10 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar in addition to the 7.5 million tonnes of LNG already committed by the Middle East country and offered it an equity stake in Petronet LNG Ltd (PLL).

"We have asked Qatar for supply of an additional 10 million tonnes of LNG annually from 2010. Their response was very positive," Petroleum Minister Murli Deora told media Thursday after a meeting with visiting Qatari Foreign Minister Yusuf Hussain Kamal.

The minister said the 25-year deal for supply of 2.5 million tonnes of LNG from 2009 has been concluded favourably, taking the total Qatari commitment of gas supply to Petronet LNG to 7.5 million tonnes.

Qatar's RasGas is currently supplying 5.0 million tonnes of LNG to Petronet LNG's Dahej terminal in Gujarat.

The additional 10 million LNG is being sought for the Dahej terminal that is being expanded, Petronet LNG's under-construction Kochi terminal, Ratnagiri power plant (formerly known as Dabhol) and the proposed terminal at Mangalore by state-owned Oil and the proposed Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).

"We have also sought Qatari investment in India and urged the Qatar Investment Agency to pick up a stake in Petronet LNG," Deora said.

India has offered Qatar up to 12.5 percent equity stake in Petronet LNG. The minister said a team from Qatar would arrive in India next week to study the feasibility of picking up a stake in Petronet LNG and other projects including in refineries.