Indian LNG demand has questions to answer
Despite predictions of explosive growth, price-sensitive buying behaviour and infrastructure challenges cast a pall over the outlook
The large LNG SPA renewal between state-owned QatarEnergy and Petronet turned heads at India Energy Week in early February. The Indian importer agreed to buy 7.5mt/yr from Qatar until 2050, renewing earlier deals that had started in 2004 and 2008. QatarEnergy followed up the deal a few weeks later by announcing it would build an additional 16mt/yr of capacity on top of the 50mt/yr North Field East and North Field South expansions already underway. Petronet’s CEO said in February that he expected LNG demand in India to rise to 150mt/yr by 2030, a sevenfold increase. With approximately 200mt/yr of new LNG export capacity under construction globally and another 220mt/yr in serious development,
Also in this section
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
1 April 2026
The US-Iran conflict demonstrates the need for diversification in several senses of the word. It also exposes the limits of Washington applying pressure on major oil and gas producers it considers geopolitical adversaries
31 March 2026
Disappointing results in its bidding round are a reality check for Libya, and global exploration generally
