Oman overtakes US as India's top LNG supplier in September 2026; Nigeria 2nd, US 3rd
15-10-2026 · English
Topics: Economy · 15 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)
News
According to ship-tracking firm Kpler (IANS, Oct 2026), Oman (585,000 t, 27%) was India's largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in September 2026, followed by Nigeria (351,000 t) and the US (about 350,000 t), which had led in August. Qatar, normally the top supplier, fell to 6th after an Iranian strike on its Ras Laffan complex in March 2026. Total imports fell 14% to 2.17 million tonnes.
Key facts
| Period | September 2026 (one month only) – Kpler data |
| Ranking | 1. Oman 585,000 t (27%); 2. Nigeria 351,000; 3. US ~350,000; 4. UAE; 5. Angola; 6. Qatar 94,000 |
| Total | 2.17 million t – down 14% from August (2.5) |
| Qatar's fall | Iranian strike on Ras Laffan, March 2026; Strait of Hormuz disruption |
| Oman's edge | Its Qalhat LNG terminal (near Sur) lies outside the Strait of Hormuz |
Background
- LNG – natural gas cooled to about −162°C and liquefied, shrinking its volume about 600 times. Its main component is methane.
- India aims to raise natural gas in its energy mix from about 6% to 15% by 2030. The largest LNG terminal is Dahej (Gujarat, Petronet, 22.5 MTPA – expanded from 17.5 in 2026); others include Hazira, Kochi, Dabhol, Mundra, Ennore and Dhamra.
- The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, between Iran and Oman. In May–July 2026 the US was the top supplier as imports from Qatar fell 91% year-on-year.
Tamil Nadu link: Indian Oil's Ennore LNG terminal (5 million tonnes a year) at Kamarajar Port, Chennai, has run since 2019 – key for south India's gas pipeline network.
Source: Free Press Journal, Telangana Today (IANS / Kpler), Oct 2026; Business Today (Aug 2026)
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