National Iranian Gas Export Company News

India’s state-run gas utility GAIL has begun talks with Iran to revive a decade-old LNG supply contract with the country, reports PTI. The Business Standard has reported that GAIL has opened talks with Iran over the LNG contract whose value is estimated to be $22 billion in light of the prospects for the removal of sanctions against Iran. "Dialogue has been initiated with Iranian counterparts to revive the LNG supply long-term SPA," the Business Standard has quoted GAIL as announcing in its latest annual report. GAIL, Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) has signed a Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC) for buying a total of 5 million tons a year of LNG from Iran in 2005 but the deal was not finalized.

With the UN referral issue creating uncertainty about India's future relations with Iran, the Petroleum Ministry is fairly assured of the supply of five-million-ton contracted liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Iran. According to the Hindu Business Line, the 5 mt per annum LNG deal was legally binding, which ends speculations that the $20 billion LNG deal with Iran may be in trouble. The ongoing negotiations with Iran are for the additional 2.5 mt per annum. The issue of pricing for the contracted 5 mt LNG was not discussed during the recent high-level meeting between the two countries in Tehran. Negotiations for an additional 2.5 mt per annum would be tough…

Last October, Tehran linked its energy dialogue to India’s nuclear diplomacy asking New Delhi to support Iran in the next meeting of the IAEA board of governors in November. That November meeting saw no vote and now Iran is back to flexing its energy muscle ahead of the crucial IAEA meeting this week, the Indian Express reported. After having signed a Sale Purchase Agreement (SPA) last June to export 5 million tons per annum of LNG to India at a price linked to $31-per barrel crude, the National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC) told India that the price agreed to in that pact is no longer valid. This despite the fact that Tehran never raised the issue of a price hike even when international crude had touched $68 a barrel last August.