<p>India, grappling with its worst power crisis in five years, has asked Qatar to expedite delivery of 58 delayed liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes, two sources familiar with the matter said.</p>.<p>Asia's third largest economy is suffering its worst power shortage since March 2016 due to a crippling coal shortage amid high global energy prices.</p>.<p>Infrastructure maintenance at supplier Qatargas prevented it from delivering 50 LNG cargoes to India this year, the sources said, prompting India's oil ministry last week to write a letter seeking delivery of those cargoes.</p>.<p>The ministry is also seeking eight additional cargoes which were delayed last year at New Delhi's request after Covid-induced lockdowns lowered demand for the super-cooled fuel, they said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/rains-stoke-concern-that-coal-shortages-may-linger-on-1041785.html">Rains stoke concern that coal shortages may linger on</a></strong></p>.<p>The sources declined to be named as they are not authorised to speak to media.</p>.<p>India's top gas importer, Petronet LNG, has long-term deals to buy 7.5 million tonnes per year (mtpa) of LNG from Qatar and 1.44 mtpa from Exxon's Gorgon project in Australia.</p>.<p>LNG under those long-term deals costs about $11-$12 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), versus more than $38 per mmBtu on Asia's spot gas <LNG-AS> market currently and a record high of over $56 hit earlier this month.</p>.<p>Indian customers in August started deferring imports of spot LNG due to high prices, Petronet LNG CEO A K Singh said at the time.</p>.<p>He said the Indian power sector attractive reduces its intake of LNG once prices rise above about $10/mmBtu.</p>.<p>India has 24 gigawatts (GW) of gas-fired power generation capacity of which about 14 GW has been stranded for more than 10 years due to non-availability of gas, while the remaining plants are operating at very low capacity.</p>.<p>India's oil ministry, Qatargas and its parent company Qatar Energy did not respond to Reuters emails seeking comment.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>
<p>India, grappling with its worst power crisis in five years, has asked Qatar to expedite delivery of 58 delayed liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes, two sources familiar with the matter said.</p>.<p>Asia's third largest economy is suffering its worst power shortage since March 2016 due to a crippling coal shortage amid high global energy prices.</p>.<p>Infrastructure maintenance at supplier Qatargas prevented it from delivering 50 LNG cargoes to India this year, the sources said, prompting India's oil ministry last week to write a letter seeking delivery of those cargoes.</p>.<p>The ministry is also seeking eight additional cargoes which were delayed last year at New Delhi's request after Covid-induced lockdowns lowered demand for the super-cooled fuel, they said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/rains-stoke-concern-that-coal-shortages-may-linger-on-1041785.html">Rains stoke concern that coal shortages may linger on</a></strong></p>.<p>The sources declined to be named as they are not authorised to speak to media.</p>.<p>India's top gas importer, Petronet LNG, has long-term deals to buy 7.5 million tonnes per year (mtpa) of LNG from Qatar and 1.44 mtpa from Exxon's Gorgon project in Australia.</p>.<p>LNG under those long-term deals costs about $11-$12 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), versus more than $38 per mmBtu on Asia's spot gas <LNG-AS> market currently and a record high of over $56 hit earlier this month.</p>.<p>Indian customers in August started deferring imports of spot LNG due to high prices, Petronet LNG CEO A K Singh said at the time.</p>.<p>He said the Indian power sector attractive reduces its intake of LNG once prices rise above about $10/mmBtu.</p>.<p>India has 24 gigawatts (GW) of gas-fired power generation capacity of which about 14 GW has been stranded for more than 10 years due to non-availability of gas, while the remaining plants are operating at very low capacity.</p>.<p>India's oil ministry, Qatargas and its parent company Qatar Energy did not respond to Reuters emails seeking comment.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>