The Hindu : International : Qatar to export more LNG to Kochi port

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Friday, Apr 15, 2005

International

International

Qatar to export more LNG to Kochi port

Special Correspondent

Emir satisfied at growth of bilateral economic ties after 1994 agreements

FIRMING UP TIES: The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, escorts the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, to a meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. — PTI

NEW DELHI: A major supplier of crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to this country, Qatar is keen to further expand cooperation with India in the areas of oil, natural gas, petrochemicals, steel and other strategic industries.

The visiting Emir of Qatar, Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, said here: ``we look forward to deepening the cooperation between Qatar and India in the fields of oil, natural gas, petrochemicals, steel industry and other strategic industries that are important for our two countries.''

Addressing industry leaders on Wednesday evening, he said negotiations are under way between RasGas Company of Qatar and Petronet LNG of India for the second phase of exporting 2.5 million tonnes of LNG to Kochi.

Qatar has already shipped 3.2 million tonnes of LNG to Petronet LNG's Dahej terminal in Gujarat since beginning of LNG exports in January 2004.

``Our joint efforts and determination to go ahead with the implementation of this project have been crowned with success where we were able to sign an agreement for exporting 7.5 million tonnes of LNG annually to the Indian markets in two phases,'' he said. Qatar is also encouraging its private sector to participate in the stock market and direct investments in India. Expressing satisfaction at the growth of economic relations since the signing of the New Delhi agreements in 1994, he said trade had increased especially in the areas of oil natural gas, fertilizers and petrochemicals.

``This proves that there are renewable opportunities for increasing our cooperation, which provides it with the energy it needs for developing its economic capabilities,'' he said.

The Emir is leading a high-level delegation that includes First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Minister of Commerce and Trade Mohamad Bin Ahmad Al-Thani and Finance Minister Yousef Hussain Kamaal.

Mr. Al-Thani said Qatar was looking to boost fertilizer, petrochemical and steel exports to India. In 2004, Qatar exported 15,000 tons of low density Poly-Ethylene and about 100,000 tons of Methanol while fertilizer exports from Qatar covered about 26 percent of Indian needs.

He was particularly pleased at the substantial growth in the volume of the exports of steel from Qatar to India.

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