Algeria, Qatar look to supply LNG markets of US, India

28 March 2004 13:14  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--Algeria and Qatar plan to take central roles in the development of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry, where key growth markets will include the US and India, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (Opec) news service, Opecna, has reported.

 

Speaking separately, energy ministers Chakib Khelil of Algeria and Qatar’s Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah outlined their countries’ strategic plans to expand in the burgeoning LNG sector.

 

Khelil, speaking at the 14th International LNG Conference in Doha, Qatar, said fresh opportunities existed for strengthening national ties in the European-Mediterranean area due to Algeria’s location, its gas routes, and also the convergence of gas and electricity markets in Europe.

 

Algerian state energy group Sonatrach has a large gas-supply deal with Norwegian major Statoil, which will feature in LNG supplies reach the US market, Khelil said. Algeria has further opportunity to feed into the growing US demand for LNG through the country's involvement in the Camisea project in Peru, he added.

 

In Qatar, the North Field will be a key factor in the rapid development of the country's LNG industry, according to Al Attiyah.

 

Further development of Qatar's LNG industry would need more than $30bn (Euro26.7bn), estimates Yousef Hussein Kamal, chairman of the Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Co (RasGas), who is also the country's Finance Minister, Opecna reported.

 

India will look to Qatar for stable LNG supplies, said Petronet chairman B K Chaturvedi, who is also Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. He added that projections indicate natural gas will have a 20% share of India’s energy basket in 2025 compared to the current 8% share. By 2020, India’s annual demand for natural gas is forecast to be 80m-90m tonne.

 

Chaturvedi pointed to RasGas as its first choice of LNG supplier as his company considers doubling the capacity of its LNG terminal at Dahej, Gujarat and setting up new terminals at places such as Kochi, Kerala.

 

RasGas began LNG deliveries Petronet earlier this year.

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