The LNG India Summit 2024, held at Hotel The Lalit in New Delhi, marks a significant milestone in India’s journey towards a sustainable energy future. This premier forum, organized by Messe Frankfurt India, now in its 8th edition, has become a pivotal event for stakeholders in the natural gas sector, including industry leaders, policymakers, and experts, to discuss to explore the latest advancements and opportunities and shape the future of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the country.
Themed ‘Natural Gas: Envisioning the Future Beyond 2050’, the summit underscores the critical role of LNG in India’s energy transition. It is a testament to the nation’s commitment to bolstering LNG infrastructure and market development, aligning with global sustainability goals.
India’s trajectory towards becoming a gas-based economy is promising, with the LNG sector poised for exponential growth. US EIA’s International Energy Outlook 2023, forecasts a more than threefold increase in India’s natural gas consumption by 2050. The anticipated surge from 3.6 billion cubic feet per day in 2022 to 13.7 Bcf/d in 2050 reflects the burgeoning demand from key industries such as fertilizers and oil refineries.
The summit serves as a strategic platform for dialogue and collaboration, aiming to address the challenges and harness the opportunities that lie ahead. With the share of natural gas in India’s energy basket projected to rise from 6% to 15% by 2030, the LNG India Summit 2024 is more than an event—it is a harbinger of the transformative potential of LNG for the nation’s economy and the environment.
As the premiere annual leadership forum for the natural gas sector against the backdrop of a dynamic global landscape and evolving energy solutions, the upcoming LNG India Summit 2024 presents a unique opportunity for the industry to indulge in dialogue, collaboration, and forward-thinking strategies for the sector. Covering a comprehensive range of topics surrounding the anticipated growth of the LNG market, the conference convenes 45+ eminent speakers from this domain who will deep-dive into the current landscape as well as discuss how to further capitalize on India’s strength for the soaring future while also achieving India’s ambitious target of transitioning towards a gas-based economy.
Inaugurated by Chief Guest Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog; Dr AK Balyan, Chairman and Managing Director, Carmine Energy; Sachiv Kumar, Additional Director General, Development, Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India; and Deepak Mishra, Joint Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India, the Summit marks the presence of several senior officials from Government and policymaker side along with C-Suite executives from the private sector.
Chief Guest Dr. Saraswat briefed the audience on the global and Indian scenario of the natural gas industry. He said: “Globally, in the primary energy consumption, the gas sector contributes 25.6% and in India, it contributes around 6.7%. The domestic gas production has been stagnating, so we import LNG through long-term contracts. We are depended on about 50% of gas imports to meet demand. There is a need for an increase in the domestic production. The installation capacity in terms of distribution for the sector is only 25 GW i.e. 6%. The overall installed power capacity is 442 GW and as the GDP goes up we are going to demand 990 GW of overall capacity. In India, emission intensity to GDP was reduced by 33% in 2019 over 2005, as a relatively cleaner fuel, natural gas can be an option for reducing emissions.”
Giving a way forward in the gas sector, he further added: “Natural Gas consumption in the transportation sector is projected to increase 6x by 2047 from 2022 levels. In the cooking sector, it is projected to increase 10x by 2047; in the industry sector the consumption is expected to grow by 7x by 2047.”
The two-day conference will cover a comprehensive range of topics surrounding the anticipated growth of the LNG market and discuss how to further capitalize on India’s strength for the soaring future while also achieving India’s ambitious target of transitioning towards a gas-based economy.
The distinguished panel of speakers from key government agencies, policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders from the leading energy sector majors will engage in exciting panel discussions and fireside chats generating great networking opportunities and showcasing of latest equipment & technological developments in the LNG value chain – Transportation, storage, tanks and other equipment.
On day one, the industry experts share their insights and initiate a thought-provoking discussion on topics like:
- India’s Current & Future Outlook for LNG imports supporting gas-based economy
- CEO Roundtable: Role of LNG to Increase Natural Gas Share from 6.7% to 15% – Perspectives across LNG & NG Value Chain
- LNG supplies, prices, and trading – Global perspective and Indian scenario
- How can India enhance its gas supply portfolio?
- Technological developments in LNG value chain – Transportation, storage, tanks, and other equipment
- FireSide Chat on
· Will India’s gas production increase in the future?
· Or is LNG Imports the option?
· Why have LNG Imports not gone up substantially over the last 5 years?
· Feasibility of gas imports via Transnational gas pipelines
- Panel discussion on LNG supplies, prices, trading & contracting– Global perspective & Indian scenario?
As the Summit begins, Mr. Raj Manek, Executive Director & Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd shared his thoughts: “We are thrilled to host the LNG India Summit 2024, an event that underscores the pivotal role of LNG in shaping a sustainable energy future for India. This summit is a crucial platform for collaboration, innovation, and investment, driving forward our vision of a cleaner and more resilient energy landscape.”
He further added: “The summit features keynote addresses, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, providing a comprehensive overview of the current trends, challenges, and prospects of the LNG industry in India. It’s a great opportunity for the sector to unite on a single platform to engage with leading experts and stakeholders, fostering dialogue and partnerships that will pave the way for the next phase of energy development in the country.”
As the summit unfolds, it is clear that the discussions and decisions made here will have a lasting impact, shaping the contours of India’s energy landscape for decades to come. The focus on accelerating growth and envisioning a future where natural gas plays a pivotal role in meeting energy needs sustainably, positions India at the forefront of the global energy transition narrative.
The second day of the conference, will cover topics like LNG Infrastructure Building, Supplying through Gas Grid to CGDs and other Industries, Infrastructure of receiving regasification terminals –Land-based & FSRUs, Global LNG Regasification Capacities & Status of India’s LNG Import Capacity, LNG Shipping Capacities & Decarbonization with LNG fleets, Developing LNG Supplies to new CGD Infrastructure in India, Small Scale LNG (ssLNG) to expand natural gas access to India, and How India can enhance its gas share Like China?
Since 2015, the LNG India Summit has become a crucial platform for discussing the growth trajectory of the LNG sector in India. The summit brings together stakeholders including government departments, policymakers, regulators, importers, suppliers, infrastructure builders, private industry players, and technology and solution providers. The sessions focus on India’s transition towards a gas-based economy, allowing for valuable knowledge-sharing and networking opportunities.
— DILIP GUHA
