India’s gas utility Gail India Ltd has postponed for the third time the closing date for the tender aimed at construction of its LNG ships.
Gail has inked long term agreements with the US based companies Cheniere Energy Partner and Dominion Resources for transportation of LNG from Sabine Pass and Cove Point terminals in USA.
It plans to charter newly built ships to transport this gas to India.
As informed by the Financial Express, the closing date of the tender has been pushed to February 17 from the previously intended January 6.
The tender announced in August was first delayed from October 30 to December 4 and then to January 6.
The tender stipulates for one third of the LNG ships to be built domestically. However, it seems that this very precondition has turned away international bidders since they would have to share their technology with local builders.
In order for GAIL to be able to start its import activities in 2017, the tender, which is already lagging behind, should be finalized and awarded by May.
The LNG carriers have a price tag of USD 220 million each and their capacity would be 1,80,000 cubic metres of gas.
World Maritime News Staff