ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) is planning to import ethane starting in mid-2028 to address changes in the composition of liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplied by Qatar. Currently, QatarEnergy provides LNG that includes methane, ethane, and propane, which are used for various purposes such as electricity generation, cooking fuel, and petrochemical production. However, a revised contract will see Qatar supplying “lean” gas, which lacks ethane and propane.
To compensate for this change, ONGC aims to source 800,000 tonnes of ethane annually to support its petrochemical subsidiary, ONGC Petro Additions Ltd (OPaL). The company has floated a tender seeking joint venture partners to construct Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLECs) for transporting the ethane. This initiative is part of ONGC’s strategy to ensure a steady supply of feedstock for its petrochemical operations.
