Qatar to supply additional 4 million tonnes gas to India

Qatar has agreed to supply an additional 4 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet India's growing energy needs. The additional fuel will be imported at the under-construction Kochi LNG terminal of Petronet LNG Ltd and the Dabhol terminal, which is almost ready.

Qatar's petroleum and mineral resources minister Abdulla bin Hamad al-Attiyah said his country has an existing contract to ship 7.5 million tonnes of LNG to India and another of 12 million tonnes of LNG to China.

The minister made the statement at a business meet on the sidelines of the two-day 12th International Energy Forum being held at Cancun, Mexico, from today.

"We have created the trust between the producers and importers over the years," said al-Attiyah, adding, "the International Energy Forum also contributed to the trust-building."

Qatar will begin with supply of an additional one million tonnes of LNG to India in 2011 and will augment it further to 4 million tonnes by 2014. Al-Attiyah told reporters after an hour-long meeting with union petroleum minister Murli Deora, "These would be 15-20 year contract."

With falling demand from the US and Europe, its principal importers,  LNG-surplus Qatar has developed a soft corner for India and China where energy demand has risen with their respective economies doing well.