<p>New Delhi: Amidst escalating tensions in West Asia and its impact on global fuel supplies, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has undertaken an official visit to Qatar, India’s largest supplier of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and LPG.</p><p>The visit on April 9-10 follows a tentative US-Iran ceasefire that has rekindled hopes of resumption of energy supplies from the region.</p><p>"Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep S Puri, will be on an official visit to the State of Qatar on 9-10 April, 2026," his ministry said in a post on X.</p>.<p>After the US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, Tehran launched a sweeping retaliation targeting Gulf countries hosting US troops. Qatar’s giant LNG export facility at Ras Laffan Industrial City was hit, forcing the shutdown of production and a declaration of force majeure on gas exports.</p><p>Following the disruption of supply from Qatar, Indian companies have since turned to alternative LNG suppliers in the US, Australia.</p>.Indian-flagged tanker Green Asha carrying 15,400 tonnes of LPG docks at Maharashtra port.<p>Qatar is India's single-largest supplier of both LNG and LPG, providing 45 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively.</p><p>Discussions during Puri's visit are expected to focus on restoring shipments, reviewing existing agreements, and exploring avenues to strengthen bilateral energy cooperation.</p><p>Puri may ask Qatar to prioritise India in supply of LNG once trade resumes.</p><p>While the social media post did not give details of his agenda in Qatar, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said one has to wait for his return to know what exactly was discussed.</p>
<p>New Delhi: Amidst escalating tensions in West Asia and its impact on global fuel supplies, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has undertaken an official visit to Qatar, India’s largest supplier of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and LPG.</p><p>The visit on April 9-10 follows a tentative US-Iran ceasefire that has rekindled hopes of resumption of energy supplies from the region.</p><p>"Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep S Puri, will be on an official visit to the State of Qatar on 9-10 April, 2026," his ministry said in a post on X.</p>.<p>After the US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, Tehran launched a sweeping retaliation targeting Gulf countries hosting US troops. Qatar’s giant LNG export facility at Ras Laffan Industrial City was hit, forcing the shutdown of production and a declaration of force majeure on gas exports.</p><p>Following the disruption of supply from Qatar, Indian companies have since turned to alternative LNG suppliers in the US, Australia.</p>.Indian-flagged tanker Green Asha carrying 15,400 tonnes of LPG docks at Maharashtra port.<p>Qatar is India's single-largest supplier of both LNG and LPG, providing 45 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively.</p><p>Discussions during Puri's visit are expected to focus on restoring shipments, reviewing existing agreements, and exploring avenues to strengthen bilateral energy cooperation.</p><p>Puri may ask Qatar to prioritise India in supply of LNG once trade resumes.</p><p>While the social media post did not give details of his agenda in Qatar, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said one has to wait for his return to know what exactly was discussed.</p>
