ONGC to Import Ethane from 2028 Amid Qatar LNG Shift

26 Mar 2025 CW Team

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) plans to import 800,000 tonnes of ethane annually from mid-2028 to compensate for changes in liquefied natural gas (LNG) composition under its renewed contract with QatarEnergy. The company has floated a tender seeking partners to develop very large ethane carriers (VLECs) for transporting the feedstock.

India currently imports 7.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG from Qatar. However, the revised contract, effective from 2028, will supply 'lean' gas—stripped of ethane and propane—impacting ONGC’s petrochemical operations.

To address this, ONGC plans to secure ethane imports for its subsidiary, ONGC Petro additions Ltd (OPaL), which operates Southeast Asia’s largest standalone dual-feed cracker. The company is also inviting joint venture partners for financing and constructing VLECs.

ONGC had invested about Rs 15 billion in its C2/C3 extraction plant at Dahej, Gujarat, in 2008-09. The facility extracts ethane and propane from imported LNG, supplying them as feedstock to OPaL’s petrochemical complex.

With the shift in LNG composition, the firm is now strategizing ethane imports to sustain production. The last date for submitting expressions of interest for the shipping JV is March 27.

Infrastructure Transport

07 Aug 2026

Government Plans Rs 450 bn Rail Investment Along Borders

The government plans to invest Rs 450 bn to upgrade railways along borders with China, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the press release said. The programme will run over 18 to 24 months and will finance new tracks, platforms and network strengthening across Punjab, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam and several northeastern states. That is about $4.7 bn. Officials indicated the initiative represents nearly 22 per cent of all railway infrastructure outlay planned over the next two years and is among the most significant strategic infrastructure pushes in recent years. The plan extends be..

Indian Railways Approves Daily Express Between Mumbai CSMT And Sawantwadi Road

Indian Railways has approved a new daily express service between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai, and Sawantwadi Road to boost rail connectivity across Maharashtra and the Konkan region. The service will operate over a 510-km route and will run daily as Train No. 15087 CSMT–Sawantwadi Road Express and Train No. 15088 Sawantwadi Road–CSMT Express. It is intended to provide direct and reliable rail connectivity for passengers travelling for tourism, education, employment and business. The Ministry of Railways said the move forms part of ongoing efforts to expand passenger..

SECR Invites Rs 4550.2 mn EPC Tender For Chhattisgarh Line

South East Central Railway (SECR) has invited bids for an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract worth Rs 4550.2 mn for a section of the Dallirajhara-Rowghat-Jagdalpur New Railway Line in Chhattisgarh. The contract covers a nearly 30 km stretch between Kurkanar and Bhanpuri and forms part of the larger corridor linking the mineral-rich Bastar region with the state rail network. The authority has positioned the package as a key link to improve passenger and freight movement within the region. Tender documents carry tender number CAO-C-BSP-26-27-14 and an earnest money deposit ..