India’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports rose in September compared to the same month last year, according to the preliminary data from the oil ministry’s Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell.
The country imported 2.27 billion cubic meters, or about 1.7 million tonnes of LNG, in September, a rise of 17.5 percent compared to the same month in 2022, PPAC said.
During April-September, India took 15.11 bcm of LNG, or some 11.1 million tonnes, up by 9.4 percent, PPAC said.
India paid $1.2 billion for September LNG imports, down from $1.4 billion last year, while costs dropped from $9.4 billion in the April-September period last year to $6.6 billion during the same six months this year, it said.
As per India’s natural gas production, it reached 3.02 bcm in September, up by 6.1 percent compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.
During April-September, gas production rose by 4 percent to 17.87 bcm, PPAC said.
At the moment, India imports LNG via seven facilities with a combined capacity of about 47.7 million tonnes.
India’s Adani and France’s TotalEnergies started supplying natural gas in April to the grid from their 5 mtpa Dhamra LNG import facility located in Odisha, on India’s east coast. In August, the partners completed the first truck loading operation at the facility.
During April-September, Petronet LNG’s 17.5 mtpa Dahej terminal operated at 94.3 percent capacity, while Shell’s 5 mtpa Hazira terminal operated at 39.2 percent capacity, PPAC said.
The Dhamra LNG terminal operated at 24 percent capacity, it said.
