September 21, 2023 [LNG Prime]- India’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports rose in August 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 2.23 billion cubic meters, or about 1.7 million tonnes of LNG, in August, a rise of 10.1 percent compared to the same month in 2022, PPAC said.

During April-August, India took 12.21 bcm of LNG, or some 9.3 million tonnes, up by 3.5 percent, PPAC said.

India paid $1.3 billion for August LNG imports, down from $1.5 billion last year, while costs dropped from $8 billion in the April-August period last year to $6 billion during the same five months this year, it said.

As per India’s natural gas production, it reached 3.16 bcm, up by 9.3 percent compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.

During April-August, gas production rose by 3.6 percent to 14.85 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.

During April-August, Petronet LNG’s 17.5 mtpa Dahej terminal operated at 93.4 percent capacity, while Shell’s 5 mtpa Hazira terminal operated at 36 percent capacity, PPAC said.

The Dhamra LNG terminal operated at 18.9 percent capacity, it said.

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