India receives its biggest LNG cargo

The receipt of the ship, carrying cargo from Ras-Laffan, Qatar, has set another benchmark, the company said.

India has received its biggest shipment of liquefied natural gas by ship as it looks to diversify supplies and economise parcel size to meet growing energy demand.

A Q-Max LNG vessel, the largest LNG carrier in its class, with a capacity of about 261,000 cubic meters, was received at Petronet LNG Ltd's Dahej import terminal in Gujarat on Tuesday.

The receipt of the ship, carrying cargo from Ras-Laffan, Qatar, has set another benchmark, the company said.

Last year, Petronet had successfully unloaded 1,000th cargo at Dahej in a short span of about 9 years.

"We are glad to receive first Q-Max LNG vessel, one of the biggest size LNG ships available today, at Dahej Terminal and expect to receive more such cargoes in future," Petronet Managing Director & CEO Ashok Kumar Balyan said.

In April, Petronet had signed a short-term contract with Qatar's Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Co to import 800,000 tonnes of LNG over 12 months to supply to refineries.

Petronet currently imports 7.5 million tonnes a year of LNG from RasGas on a long-term contract that was signed in 2004.

"The global energy supplier currently makes regular deliveries to Petronet's Dahej and Kochi terminals.

“After South Korea, India is RasGas' largest recipient of LNG by volume," the statement said.

RasGas will load its 1,000th cargo destined to Dahej in mid-December.

"The safe berthing and unloading of the Mekaines Q-Max vessel at Dahej is another significant milestone to highlight relationship between RasGas and Petronet.

"As the largest single supplier of LNG to India, RasGas stands ready to assist Petronet in meeting India's growing demand for eco-friendly fuel.

"The delivery of the Q-Max cargo to Dahej Terminal demonstrates our flexibility in meeting our long-standing customer's needs," said Khalid Sultan R. Al Kuwari, RasGas' Chief Marketing and Shipping Officer.

Petronet currently has two operational LNG import terminals -- 10 million tonnes a year Dahej facility in Gujarat and 5 million tonnes per annum facility at Kochi in Kerala.

The firm, which meets about 30 per cent of the country's gas demand, has so far sourced over 1,250 cargoes at its Dahej LNG terminal.

"The Dahej terminal is further being expanded to 15 million tonnes capacity. In September, 2013, Petronet has commissioned its 5 million tonnes LNG terminal at Kochi.

"Petronet is also pursuing setting up of its third terminal at Gangavaram on the East Coast of India," the statement added.