India Eyes More U.S. LNG Imports Amid Rising Demand

India is looking to boost its liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from the U.S. following the Trump administration’s decision to lift restrictions on export permits, Oil Secretary Pankaj Jain said. The country, the world’s fourth-largest LNG importer, aims to increase gas usage to 15% of its energy mix by 2030, up from 6.2% currently.

Indian oil firms, including GAIL (NSE:GAIL), Indian Oil Corp, and Bharat Petroleum (NSE:BPCL), are in talks with U.S. suppliers for additional LNG procurement. Discussions are expected to take place during the India Energy Week conference, where companies may also explore equity stakes in U.S. LNG projects if the deals are attractive.

GAIL, already importing 5.8 million tons of U.S. LNG annually from Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRKa) Energy’s Cove Point and Cheniere Energy’s (NYSE:LNG) Sabine Pass plant, is considering reviving its plans to acquire stakes in U.S. LNG projects or secure additional long-term deals, said Chairman Sandeep Kumar Gupta.

India’s long-term LNG imports are primarily from Qatar, where prices are linked to crude oil. Jain emphasized the need for a diversified gas portfolio that includes both U.S. Henry Hub-indexed and crude-linked pricing models.

Energy trade will be a key topic when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets U.S. President Donald Trump this week, according to Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. India’s interest in U.S. LNG aligns with broader Asian demand, as countries like Japan and Taiwan seek to expand their supply sources.

The move reflects India’s strategy to secure energy security, reduce reliance on crude oil, and leverage competitive U.S. LNG pricing. The growing demand from Asian nations highlights the increasing global shift toward LNG as a cleaner energy source.