Indian Oil's LNG Terminal Receives Commissioning Cargo

State-owned Indian Oil Corporation’s Ennore LNG import terminal in south India February 25 received its commissioning cargo from Qatar, The Peninsula reported March 4.

The commissioning LNG cargo was delivered onboard the vessel Golar Snow by Gunvor. Qatargas sold the cargo free on board (FOB) basis to the Swiss trader.

The 5mn mt/yr LNG terminal is located at Kamarajar Port in Ennore in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Indian Oil holds 95% stake in the Ennore LNG import terminal; Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation has the remaining 5%. In January, news agency Press Trust of India reported that Indian Oil wants to retain a minimum 50% stake in the project and so, practically 45% stake is up for grabs.

As the second-largest natural gas player in the country, Indian Oil is making significant investments in natural gas infrastructure and marketing, in line with the country's changing energy mix. The company recently won city gas distribution licences for 10 areas, mostly in the eastern Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand. Indian Oil won nine licences on its own and one in a joint venture with Adani Gas.

The company plans to connect the Ennore terminal to its Chennai Petroleum Corporation refinery apart from facilities of Madras Fertilisers, Tamil Nadu Petro Products, Manali Petrol Products, and other customers in the area.