Qatar has expressed interest in investing in energy projects in third countries jointly with India. The world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and a major supplier to India is also finalising terms to expand supplies to India by another four million tonnes (mt) by 2013, visiting Qatari Deputy Premier and Energy and Industry Minister Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah said today.
Attiyah said that the two countries would discuss opportunities in the sector. “There are opportunities even outside India and Qatar. Today there are no restrictions in the world. In energy, we are not bankers but long-term partners.”
Petroleum Secretary S Sundareshan today said LNG supply from Qatar was being discussed for import at Petronet’s Dahej terminal in Gujarat and the yet-to-be commissioned Dabhol import facility in Maharashtra.
Attiyah said Qatar was willing to supply LNG at Dabhol since legal issues with regard to the power plant have been solved. It had earlier supplied LNG for Dabhol at Dahej.
“Hopefully, in a few weeks, we will finalise...we are talking about (supply of) 4 mt,” Attiyah told reporters after participating in the inaugural ceremony of the sixth Asia Gas Partnership Summit here.
He pointed out that India had been one of the biggest consumers of LNG from Qatar. Currently, the west Asian country supplies 7.5 mt of LNG to India annually.
“We had already sold out, but we have some diversion now,” said Attiyah, referring to Qatar’s plans to divert its supply committed to the US and Europe to Asia at a better price. Qatar’s agreement with the US provides for a clause where it can divert LNG to other markets if it is offered a better price.