Natural gas import bill down 12% in Apr-Nov

DECLINING FLOW

- ARUNIMA BHARADWAJ

INDIA'S NATURAL GAS import bill declined by 11.5% to $9.2 billion during AprilNovember of FY26 compared with $10.4 billion in the yearago period, according to data from the government's Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC).

The country imported 23,102 million standard cubic metres (mmscm) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) during the period, reflecting a 8.8% decline over April-November of FY25. In November, the import bill remained unchanged at $1.2 billion, while the volume imported increased by 4.9% to 2,844 mmscm.

During the eight-month period, the country's natural gas consumption decreased by 6% to 46,239 mmscm. The country's reliance on imported gas also decreased during the period to 50% from 51.5% in the same period last fiscal.