India’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports jumped in February compared to the same month in 2023, according to the preliminary data from the oil ministry’s Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell.
The country imported about 2.44 billion cubic meters, or about 1.8 million tonnes of LNG, in February via long-term contracts and spot purchases, a rise of 33.3 percent compared to the same month in 2023, PPAC said.
During April 2023-February 2024, India took 27.93 bcm of LNG, or some 21 million tonnes, up by 17.6 percent, PPAC said.
India paid $1.1 billion for February LNG imports, the same amount as in the year before, and $12 billion in April-February, down from $15.9 billion in the year before, it said.
As per India’s natural gas production, it reached 2.47 bcm in February, up by 11.1 percent compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.
During April-February, gas production rose by 5.7 percent to about 33.2 bcm, PPAC said.
At the moment, India imports LNG via seven facilities with a combined capacity of about 47.7 million tonnes.
These include Petronet LNG’s Dahej and Kochi terminals, Shell’s Hazira terminal, and the Dabhol LNG, Ennore LNG, Mundra LNG, and Dhamra LNG terminal.
During April 2023-January 2024, the 17.5 mtpa Dahej terminal operated at 95.3 percent capacity, while the 5.2 mtpa Hazira terminal operated at 32.6 percent capacity, PPAC said.
The 5 mtpa Dhamra LNG terminal operated at 24.6 percent capacity, the 5 mtpa Dabhol LNG terminal operated at 39.4 percent capacity, and the 5 mtpa Kochi LNG terminal operated at 20.6 percent capacity, it said.