Petronet Plans LNG Terminals in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
India’s biggest player in liquefied natural gas (LNGLF) (LNG) Petronet LNG Ltd has plans to establish a 5 million tonne LNG terminal in Bangladesh and 1million-tonne terminal in Sri Lanka.
The Bangladesh terminal is in addition to 3.5 mt terminal that the country is looking to set up at Matar Bari in Moheshkhali Island of Cox’s Bazar district or Anwara, Chittagong, for which Petronet is one of the firms that has been shortlisted.
"Bangladesh has huge unmet gas demand particularly to power generation. So during the recent visit of Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to Dhaka, we proposed to set up a 5 million tonne capacity terminal on government-to-government basis," Press Trust of India quoted Petronet Managing Director & CEO Prabhat Singh as saying.
Besides Bangladesh, Petronet has also proposed to set up 1 mt LNG terminal in Sri Lanka to meet local demand.
“We have proposed the setting up of a 1million-tonne terminal in Sri Lanka,” Singh said.
Singh said Kutubdia islands has a natural harbour with good draft and a natural breakwater, ideal for setting up LNG terminal.
Petronet's aim to set up a re-gassification terminal in Sri Lanka is expected to get a diplomatic push from the Indian government.
On July 4, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan had discussed economic cooperation with the island nation's Minister of International trade Malik Samarawickrama in New Delhi.
Singh said that by 2020, Petronet would double its storage capacity to 30 million tonnes. Its Dahej terminal, with 15 million-tonne capacity, is operating at 120% capacity. Another 5 million-tonne terminal in Kochi is operating below 10% capacity due to a lack of evacuation facility.
