**4. LNG Infrastructure in India**

Natural gas consumption should expand from 165–170 MMSCMD to 640–700 MMSCMD by 2030 to reach 15% of primary energy consumption. Given the fact that domestic production may not go beyond 100 MMCMD from the current levels of 75 MMSCMD, the gap shall have to be filled with the import of LNG for which adequate regasification terminals should be created. At end of 2020, India had six operational LNG terminals with a cumulative capacity of 42.5 MMTPA (**Table 4**). Petronet LNG Limited operated the largest LNG terminal at Dahej, Gujarat with a capacity of 17.5 MMTPA. The Petronet LNG Limited was the largest operator with


#### **Table 4.**

*Operational, under construction, and planned LNG terminals in India.*

54% of the total commissioned LNG terminal capacity. The Dahej and Kochi terminals handled 254 and 14 LNG cargoes respectively in the financial year 2020–2021. Utilization of Kochi terminal improved due to commissioning of Mangalore section of GAIL's Kochi Mangalore pipeline in 2020–2021.

Upcoming LNG terminals in Jaigarh (Floating Storage and Regasification Unit), Dhamra, Jafrabad (Floating Storage Regasification Unit), and Chhara will strengthen India's LNG infrastructure. Especially, the LNG terminal in Dhamra, Odisha will augment natural gas supply in eastern India and enhance natural gas penetration in the underpenetrated demand centers. Dhamra LNG terminal can expand its capacity up to 10 MMTPA. Dhamra will bolster the CGD network development in Odisha, West Bengal, and Bihar. LNG infrastructure development now spreads across the coastal states in the country, which was not the case earlier. Even then the share of LNG infrastructure is still concentrated in the west coast of India. Well-developed ports, natural gas pipeline connectivity, and early adoption of natural gas in Gujarat, and Maharashtra supported LNG infrastructure in the west coast. On the contrary, despite the strong coastal presence, the eastern and southern states like Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu remained less attractive for developing LNG terminals.

In the coming years, LNG will have greater use, especially LNG as a transport fuel, which will create a market for LNG. Considering the emerging market scenario, LNG has significant growth potential. The new and upcoming consumption centers will create additional demand for LNG.

The existing capacity of LNG regasification terminals will not meet the rising demand. Therefore, the existing LNG infrastructure requires much-needed augmentation to address the supply concerns. So, there is an urgent requirement of creating additional LNG regasification capacity to the tune of 75–80 MMTPA.
