GAIL in talks with Golar LNG for shipping US gas

GAIL (India) is believed to be in talks with Golar LNG, one of the world’s leading owners and operators of LNG carriers, to ferry gas from the US starting 2017. Separately, the state-run gas marketing and trading firm has also called bids for hiring of nearly 11 ships to ferry LNG. The discussions with Golar is seen as an interim arrangement till the chartered ships are ready, which is expected only by 2019.

According to the tender for chartered ships, the vessels build overseas are to be delivered between January and May 2019 and those made locally are to be ready between July 2022 and June 2023. There would be a gap between starting of supplies from the US and when these vessels would be ready. France-based Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) has decided to offer its LNG ship building technology to India. Last week, GTT and   Cochin Shipyard Limited signed an agreement, which would facilitate building vessels under Make in Indiainitiative. Meanwhile, Kochi Shipyard has joined hands with Samsung Shipyard, while Pipavav Shipyard has tied up with Daewoo Shipbuilding to qualify themselves for participating in the GAIL tender.