India commissions new LNG regasification terminal in Gujarat

Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL) has commissioned a 5-mta LNG regasification terminal in the port of Chhara in the Indian state of Gujarat. HPCL said the terminal was set up by its subsidiary HPCL LNG.

LNG carrier Maran Gas Coronis delivered the first LNG cargo, berthed on 6 January 2025, with the cargo discharge into the shore-based LNG tanks completed on 12 January 2025.

"The terminal’s receipt and storage facilities were commissioned on 12 January 2025, following the successful unloading of the first LNG cargo. Operating on a tolling model and open to third-party users, this critical infrastructure marks a significant step in HPCL’s strategy to strengthen its presence across the entire natural gas value chain," the company said in a post to X (formerly Twitter).

HPCL said it had invested some Rs 4750 crore (US$549M) in the terminal at Chhara Port in Gujarat’s Gir-Somnath District.

"It has facilities to receive LNG through ocean tankers, marine unloading, storage, LNG road tanker loading, regasification and supply of regasified LNG to the gas grid," the company said.

HPCL said the terminal would support India’s national target of raising the share of natural gas in the country’s energy mix to 15% of the total by 2030. 

With a dedicated jetty and plans for a Phase 2 of the terminal’s development, HPCL said the facility can accomodate LNG carriers from 80,000-266,000 m³. The terminal’s above-ground LNG storage tanks store some 200,000 m³ each, and are claimed as the largest of their type in India.