India to continue to buy gas from Myanmar

NEW DELHI, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- India says it will continue to import natural gas from Myanmar as it strives for "energy security" while demand continues to grow.

“In order to achieve energy security for the country, India will continue to make all efforts for import of natural gas and liquefied natural gas from all sources including Myanmar,” said Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dinsha Patel.

Patel said India would not give up its efforts to buy gas from Myanmar despite Yangon preferring to do hydrocarbon business with China.

“In the meeting held in Feb 2007 between Myanmar government and PetroChina, Myanmar decided that the gas from A1 and A3 would be sold to China through the pipeline route,” Patel said in a statement.

“This development was conveyed to the consortium partners by Myanmar government during a meeting held at Nay Pyi Taw on March 16, 2007. Gas Authority of India Ltd. impressed upon the other partners and Myanmar government that its pipeline offer was still the most competitive and offered optimum value for them due to proximity of India to these fields. However, Myanmar government stuck to their decision to sell the gas to China,” the minister said.

He said the ministry has keenly pursued the import of natural gas from Myanmar. The Myanmar government had on March 9, 2006, signed an agreement with India acknowledging GAIL as a preferential buyer of gas from A1 and A3 blocs.

Patel said the Myanmar administration invited bids for selling 15.8 mmscmd of natural gas and GAIL bid for that. But the Myanmar government without assigning any reason canceled GAIL’s bid and invited PetroChina to buy gas from its two blocs.