As West Asia’s crisis deepens, India’s Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri embarks on a crucial two-day visit to Qatar starting April 9. The agenda: high-stakes talks to mitigate LNG supply shortfalls caused by the Iran skirmishes rattling global markets.
In a post on X, the ministry confirmed Puri’s official itinerary, highlighting efforts to shield Indian households and industries from energy volatility.
The backdrop is grim. Qatar Energy declared force majeure on extended LNG deals, sidelining deliveries to major markets including Europe and East Asia. India, a key importer, watches closely even as it’s not explicitly listed among affected nations.
Attacks from Iran have ravaged Qatar’s energy backbone since February’s end. Per CEO Saad al-Kaabi, damage to critical plants has idled 17% of export capacity—equivalent to 12.8 million tons yearly. With two LNG facilities and one GTL unit offline, full recovery might span years, costing Qatar $20 billion annually and stoking alarms over worldwide energy stability.
Prime Minister Modi had earlier engaged Qatar’s leadership in March, denouncing infrastructure strikes and advocating for secure Hormuz Strait navigation.
To counter risks, Indian buyers pivot to suppliers in America, Down Under, and Russia. Against 2025’s 25.5 million-ton LNG intake, New Delhi eyes expanding gas’s role to 15% of the energy basket by decade’s end.
This diplomatic outreach by Puri aims not just at immediate fixes but at fortifying long-term energy resilience, a vital move for India’s growth trajectory.
