Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) has approached US multinational Unocal for shipping 2.5 million tonne of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually to its terminal in Gujarat. SCI had evinced interest to ship LNG for Unocal's terminal to be set up at Marauli in Gujarat, but "we have not yet finalised the deal and are still negotiating with the state-owned company", sources in the MNC told PTI. The $300-million project jointly promoted by Unocal and Natelco proposes to import LNG from West Asian countries like Qatar, Yemen and Abu Dhabi, the sources said but admitted that the tariff issue was still to be sorted out. SCI had proposed that they would like to charge the tariff for transporting LNG to Unocal in dollar terms, but the multinational company is only willing to pay SCI in rupee terms, the sources said.

India, Senegal sign MoU on solar energy: India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Senegal for electrification of avillage through solar energy near its capital Dakar. The MoU was signed by the Indian ambassador to Senegal Jawahar Lal and Senegal minister of energy, mines and industry Magued Diouf in Dakar recently. Under the MoU, public sector undertaking Central Electronics Limited (CEL) will supply, install and Commission Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) systems at Keur Matar village, near Dakar, senior officials of ministry of non-conventional energy (MNES) said. The Rs 80 lakh project will be financed by MNES as part of its efforts to demonstrate in other developing countries India's capability and competence in solar energy and assist Indian SPV industry to tap foreign markets. "The ministry will soon place orders with CEL shortly," they said.

Tripura identifies thrust areas for industrial growth: Tripura government has worked out massive plans for industrial development in the state by identifying key sectors like tea plantation, food processing, natural gas, rubber and software development as thrust areas, astate minister said here in Agartala on Sunday. The industries department, which would serve as the nodal agency, has identified 18 schemes, including on horticulture, fisheries and animal husbandry departments, as part of the developments, industries minister Pabitra Kar said.

ATMA for non-tariff barriers to check used-tyre imports: With global recessionary trends hitting the Indian tyre industry, a representative body of tyre manufacturers wants the government to erect non-tariff barriers to check the import of used tyres to protect the domestic industry. The Automotive Tyre Manufacturers' Association (ATMA) has told the commerce ministry that mandatory certification by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for tyre imports should be introduced including those sourced from South Korea. The association pointed out that if domestic manufacturers needed BIS clearance why not tyre exporters from other countries. The United States and Brazil, the association said, was insisting on certification for tyresimported into their countries even while allowing free imports of the item.