Hardeep Singh Puri visits Qatar, will hold important talks on LNG supply amid Iran conflict

Hardeep Singh Puri Qatar Visit: Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri will visit Qatar between April 9 and 10. During this, he will hold important talks regarding the supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) which has been affected due to the ongoing Iran conflict. In a post on social media, the ministry said, ‘Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri will be on an official visit to Qatar on April 9-10, 2026.

Despite pressure on the global supply chain, India is trying to ensure adequate availability of gas for domestic consumers. Let us tell you that before this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also talked to Qatar.

Impact of attacks on Qatar Energy and global concern

Earlier last month, Qatar’s state-run company Qatar Energy imposed ‘force majeure’ on long-term LNG supply contracts. It was implemented due to which the supplies to countries like Italy, Belgium, South Korea and China were affected. Although India’s name was not in this list, but India is also included among the major countries purchasing LNG from Qatar. According to Qatar Energy CEO Saad al-Kaabi, Iran’s attacks on Qatar have caused damage to energy infrastructure since the conflict began in late February. Due to this, about 17 percent of the country’s LNG export capacity has been affected.

India’s strategy and search for alternative sources

The attacks damaged 2 of Qatar’s 14 LNG plants and 1 of 2 gas-to-liquid (GTL) facilities, knocking out some 12.8 million tonnes per year of production. He said that its repair may take 3 to 5 years. The crisis is estimated to cost Qatar about $20 billion each year and has raised concerns about global energy security, especially in countries in Europe and Asia.

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PM Modi has also talked to Qatar

Earlier in March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken to Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and strongly condemned the attacks on energy infrastructure. The two leaders also stressed on ensuring safe and unhindered movement in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Indian companies are turning to alternative sources like the US, Australia and Russia for supply of LNG, which is mainly used in the industrial sector. India had imported about 25.5 million tonnes of LNG in 2025 and the government aims to increase the share of natural gas in the country’s total energy mix to 15 per cent by 2030. In such a situation, this visit of Hardeep Singh Puri is being considered very special.

With agency input…