據油價網5月17日消息稱，貿易商和高管告訴彭博社，印度主要的天然氣進口商正在與全球液化天然氣出口大國討論長期供應協議，以鎖定未來的供應，避免現貨價格飆升時的波動和不確定性。

印度計劃大幅增加天然氣消費量，以提高其在能源結構中的份額。但該國及其液化天然氣進口商對現貨液化天然氣價格飆升尤為敏感，往往在價格飆升時退出現貨市場。

去年的情況就是如此。當時，由于歐洲各國競相提高現貨購買報價，液化天然氣現貨價格高企，許多亞洲買家被擠出市場，歐洲成為液化天然氣現貨貨物的主要目的地。在2022年的大部分時間里，由于創紀錄的價格，印度以及孟加拉國和泰國等南亞國家退出了現貨市場。

能源經濟與金融分析研究所在2月份的一份報告中表示，在印度，2022年液化天然氣進口量下降了15.2%，但由于液化天然氣價格高企，總進口成本飆升了44.5%。

今年，現貨液化天然氣價格的暴跌促使對價格敏感的買家印度、巴基斯坦和孟加拉國重返市場尋找貨物。

但印度買家似乎不愿意在未來幾年在現貨市場上冒險。

根據彭博社的消息來源，Petronet LNG、GAIL India和印度石油公司正在與美國、卡塔爾和阿拉伯聯合酋長國的液化天然氣出口商就20年的供應協議進行談判。

據報道，印度最大的天然氣公司GAIL India甚至在尋求購買美國一個液化天然氣出口項目的權益。

Petronet LNG高管告訴彭博社，該公司正在與卡塔爾進行談判，以確保額外的長期產量，并與其他幾家液化天然氣供應商進行討論。

曹海斌 摘譯自 油價網

原文如下：

India Looks To Lock In Long-Term LNG Deals

Major Indian natural gas importers are discussing long-term supply deals with the biggest LNG exporting countries to lock in future supply and avoid volatility and uncertainty in case of spot price spikes, traders and executives tell Bloomberg.

India plans to significantly increase its natural gas consumption as it looks to boost its share in the energy mix. But the country and its LNG importers are particularly sensitive to surging spot LNG prices and often retreat from the spot market when prices jump.

Such was the case last year when high spot LNG prices priced out many Asian buyers as Europe bid up for supply and became the primary destination of spot LNG cargoes. For most of 2022, India – alongside other countries in South Asia such as Bangladesh and Thailand – withdrew from the spot market due to the record high prices.

In India, LNG imports fell by 15.2% in 2022, but the total import costs soared by 44.5% due to high LNG prices, the Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis said in a report in February.

This year, the slump in spot LNG prices has encouraged price-sensitive buyers India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh to return to the market looking for cargoes.

But it looks like Indian buyers are not willing to take chances on the spot market for years to come.

According to Bloomberg’s sources, Petronet LNG, GAIL India, and Indian Oil Corporation are holding discussions with LNG exporters from the United States, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for supply deals of 20 years.

GAIL India, the biggest natural gas company in the country, is even reportedly looking to buy an interest in an LNG export project in the United States.

Petronet LNG is in talks with Qatar to secure additional long-term volumes and is also in discussions with several other LNG suppliers, executives at the company told Bloomberg.