Petronet LNG, India’s largest gas importer, has issued a force majeure notice to its supplier Qatar Energy and local buyers as its ships are unable to reach the loading port at Ras Laffan due to the crisis in West Asia, it said in a stock exchange filing on Wednesday.The US-Iranian conflict disrupted fuel shipments in the region. Transit through the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman, which carries about a fifth of the oil consumed globally as well as large amounts of liquefied natural gas, has been halted after some ships were hit in the area.In view of the prevailing security situation and the physical risks posed by maritime navigation, Petronet has issued a force majeure notice to Qatar Energy Company regarding the LNG tankers Disha, Rahi and Asim, the notice issued late on Tuesday said.
Petronet has also issued force majeure to its customers GAIL (India), Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum.Qatar Energy also issued a notice to Petronet “indicating the possibility of force majeure due to the prevailing hostilities in the region,” Petronet said.On Wednesday, Petronet shares fell 9.3% to close at Rs 281 on the BSE. During the day, it fell 11.7% to Rs 273.Indian gas suppliers GAIL and Indian Oil Corp have already reduced gas supplies to industries including fertilizer plants.
Sources familiar with the matter said the decline in gas supplies had already slightly affected the production of some fertilizer companies including the Indian Farmers’ Fertilizer Association and Kripco Fertilizers.The companies have not yet announced any reductions in gas supplies to homes or the automobile sector.India imported 27 million tons of LNG in 2024/25, about half of its total gas consumption, according to government data. The bulk of LNG is imported from Qatar.