India's Bharat Petroleum is seeking to buy a liquefied natural gas cargo for November delivery at a price linked to the Japan Korea Marker, a rare move for an Indian buyer as supply disruptions drive demand for alternative fuel, S&P Global reported on Wednesday, citing Platts.
The state-run refiner issued a tender for 3.1 to 3.8 trillion British thermal units of LNG, with a 10% operational tolerance, for delivery to its Dahej terminal in Gujarat. BPCL did not immediately respond to' request for comment.
Sellers are required to submit offers linked to December JKM prices, with delivery windows on Nov. 21, Nov. 23-24, Nov. 26 or Nov. 29-30. The tender closes Sept. 24 at 2:30 p.m. India time, with offers valid until 5:30 p.m.
The tender comes as India's LNG buyers navigate a tighter market following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy chokepoint. About 60% of India's LNG supplies came from the Middle East before the US-Iran war, according to S&P Global Energy CERA data. Disruptions to those flows have prompted Indian buyers to seek alternative supplies from other regions, supporting demand for spot cargoes in Asia.
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