(a) whether the Qatar Government is aiming at to become a major supplier of liquified natural gas to India;
(b) if so, whether the Government have welcomed this decision;
(c) whether any agreement between the two countries has been signed; and
(d) if so, the projects on which Qatar Government is likely to invest and assist India in achieving self-sufficiency in oil?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)
(a) to (d) M/s Ras Laffan Liquified Natural Gas Company Limited (RasGas), a joint venture company promoted by Qatar General Petroleum Corporation (QGPC) has signed a Liqified Natural Gas (LNG) Sale Purchase Agreement with M/s Petronet LNG Limited to supply a total of 7.5 million tonnes of LNG per annum for the proposed LNG import terminals at Dahej (Gujarat) and Kochi (Kerala). M/s Ras Gas has also signed a Heads of Agreement for supply of LNG with M/s Dakshin Bharat Energy Consortium Limited for a proposed LNG import terminal at Ennore (Tamil Nadu). Import of LNG does not require permission of the Government and, therefore, the LNG Supply Agreements are signed directly between the supplying companies and the potential importers.