Natural gas imports will surpass domestic production in 2 years

The country's imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which costs three times the price of domestic gas, is projected to rise exponentially over the next 2-3 years, according to latest projections made by the Oil Ministry here.

Imports of LNG or natural gas — cooled to its liquid form for ease of transporting in ships — at 39.32 million standard cubic meters a day constituted 25.5% of the total consumption of the fuel in India in 2011-12.

This share will rise to 41 per cent in current fiscal and to 50% in the next, the ministry's projections showed.

In 2012-13, domestic natural gas production is estimated to be around 104 mmscmd, down from 114.90 mmscmd in the previous fiscal primarily because KG-D6 output has slipped to 23 mmscmd from over 30 mmscmd last year.

In current fiscal, LNG imports will jump to 73 mmscmd and are projected to further rise to 105 mmscmd in 2013-14,equalling the domestic gas production of that year.

In 2014-15, imports at 115 mmscmd will surpass domestic production of 113 mmscmd, the oil ministry estimates said. For a nation whose current account deficit is already battered by 79% reliance on imports for meeting oil needs, higher share of LNG is not be a good news.

Industry officials said the domestic output has stagnated in absence of remunerative prices.

UK's BP which partners RIL in the flagging KG-D6 gas block and

... contd.