SANJAYA
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Country focus
West Asia / Gulf
Backbone LNG supplier
Qatar is India's largest LNG supplier, anchoring city gas, fertiliser subsidy, and power-switching economics. The 2024 Petronet-QatarEnergy 20-year renewal extends supply to 2048. PM Modi engaged Qatari leadership during the 2026 crisis condemning sovereignty violations. Q-Flex carriers from Ras Laffan transit Hormuz to Dahej, Kochi, Hazira, and Mundra.
Diplomacy in the energy sector
India-Qatar LNG relationship is the backbone of India's gas system. The February 2024 Petronet-QatarEnergy 20-year renewal at a softer pricing slope — and a Free-on-Board to Delivered-Ex-Ship conversion — reset contract economics for the next two decades. PM Modi's direct engagement during the 2026 crisis preserved the gas spine.
Key points
India relations
Petronet LNG (PSU consortium of GAIL, IOC, BPCL, ONGC) anchors all term volumes. GAIL is the secondary buyer. Qatar holds the dominant share in India's regas-terminal feed. Natural Gas Control Order 2026 (9 March) capped refinery gas use at 65% of historical to protect priority allocation.
Geopolitics
The 2017-2021 Gulf rift constrained Qatar's loading and air corridors — Indian buyers built freight contingencies. The Al-Ula declaration (January 2021) restored Gulf normalisation. The 2026 Hormuz crisis tested the Qatar gas spine; Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order 2026 (Essential Commodities Act) preserved domestic priority.
Major companies
Integrated state oil and gas company. Operator of Ras Laffan LNG complex.
India ties · 20-year term contract with Petronet (renewed Feb 2024 to 2048); spot deliveries to GAIL.
Indian PSU consortium (GAIL, IOC, BPCL, ONGC at 12.5% each, plus public). Operator of Dahej and Kochi regas terminals.
India ties · Primary Qatari LNG buyer for India.
Largest gas marketer in India. Trunk pipeline operator.
India ties · Secondary Qatari LNG buyer; spot tonnes.
Qatar's national LNG shipping company; operator of Q-Flex and Q-Max carriers.
Routes and players
via Strait of Hormuz
Recent developments
2026-03-31
PPAC supply position confirmed Qatar LNG flows preserved through April and May despite Hormuz transit constraints.
Source: PPAC Snapshot, 31 March 2026
2026-03-09
Essential Commodities Act invoked. Refineries capped at 65% historical gas use; priority allocation to PNG/CNG and CNG transport at 100%.
Source: PIB / MoPNG, 9 March 2026
2026-03-09
Direct engagement with Qatari leadership condemning sovereignty violations during the regional disruption.
Source: EAM statement, both Houses, 9 March 2026
2024-02-06
Term contract extended to 2048 at a softer pricing slope vs the 1999 deal. FOB to DES conversion; India saves USD 0.30 per mmBtu on shipping. Approximately USD 78 billion over 20 years.
Source: PIB / MoPNG, 6 February 2024
Sources
Linked developments point to the source record held for that entry. Some country summaries, route descriptions, and static reference notes are authored context and may not carry a source URL. Dates belong to the individual development entries; absence of a link is not a claim of current verification. Where present, sources include Indian government records, company material, and public institutional records.