India’s Minister of Trade and Industry Anand Sharma announced India’s plans to double its imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar, having met with the Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada, who is also Chairman and Managing Director of Qatar Petroleum.
Reuters cited India’s Trade Minister as saying: “The amount will further increase to 15 million tonnes in the next three to four years.”
According to him, the decision represents an immediate result of the dwindling output of local gas which is being replaced by pollution free energy sources. The order will be provided with the aim of supplying the immediate requirement for 3 million tonnes of LNG.
India has a long term agreement with Qatar on LNG imports which amount 7.5 million tonnes on annual basis.
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LNG World News Staff, April 24, 2012; Image: Government of India