According to GAIL India Limited, India’s gas imports are expected to rise as it has reopened its western import facility due to rise in local demand to pre-Covid levels. GAIL had stopped the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes at its Ratnagiri terminal, with a capacity of 5 million tonnes per year, in May 2020 due to the onset of monsoon.
On an average, GAIL receives five LNG cargoes per month at the terminal. However, the imports were affected owing to the fall in demand due to nationwide lockdown. GAIL unloaded the first cargo since the shutdown on September 27, 2020.
India meets about half of its demand of 160-170 million cubic meters per day (mmscmd) of gas demand through imports. In April 2020, the LNG imports slipped over three years’ low to 1,947 mmscmd as lockdown hit mobility and industrial activity. The overall gas demand during April 2020 was the lowest since March 2015, as per the government data.