India and China have raised domestic natural gas prices, which will pave the way for increased imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as demand grows rapidly in both countries. Higher domestic prices will make LNG imports more attractive and incentivize domestic gas production. Analysts expect the price increases will lead to more LNG import infrastructure development and capacity in both countries in order to meet surging demand.

1. India, China gas reforms open door to more imports
Moves by China and India to raise local gas prices will pave the way for
increased imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), as the two nations try to ensure they
can meet rapidly increasing demand for the fuel.
Gas prices in both countries have been kept artificially low at levels well below globally
traded LNG costs, meaning either LNG importers suffer a loss or local LNG users have
to pay a big premium to domestic prices.
India last week nearly doubled the price from around $4.20 per million British thermal
units (mmBtu) to a pricing formula that will bring prices to around $8.40 per mmBtu from
April 1, 2014.
China made a more modest reform, increasing non-residential natural gas prices by
15%, but prices will be higher at up to $10-$12 per mmBtu in many coastal provinces.
Chinese and Indian gas demand is expected to soar in the coming decade, driven by
growing energy demand and efforts by China in particular to increase the amount of
cleaner burning natural gas in its energy mix.
Higher gas prices will make LNG imports more attractive and provide incentives for
domestic gas developments.
"It's broadly positive for LNG, as most (Chinese) LNG players are nervous of low (cost)
competing gas sources," said Beijing-based senior gas analyst Gavin Thompson of
Wood Mackenzie.

2. "We'll start to see a little more of the China influence in the spot, short-term LNG
markets than the past few years."
LNG spot prices into China are around $14.50 per mmBtu, while India's gas imports are
at $13 to $14 per mmBtu.
"I am expecting there will be some change in (India's) consumer psychology and
demand pattern," said R.K. Garg, the head of finance at Petronet LNG.
India imported 15.17 million tonnes of LNG in 2012, which is expected to rise to 50
million tonnes by 2020, while demand in China, which bought 14.7 of LNG last year, is
expected to hit 60 million tonnes by 2020, said consultancy Tri Zen International.
"We had assumed higher prices in the forecasts so don't think the latest hikes in the two
countries will trigger any changes to the forecasts," said Tri Zen analyst Tony Regan.
The price hikes will also provide an incentive for investment in LNG importing
infrastructure.
"A formal indication of a hike in domestic prices will give regasification terminal
developers more clarity about future supply potential," said Gautam Sudhakar, senior
analyst with IHS in Washington DC.
Within days of the gas price hike, Indian firm H-Energy called for bids from EPC
contractors for building an 8 million tonnes-per-year LNG terminal in Maharashtra state.
India has plans for an additional 83 million tonnes of LNG import capacity on the books
for 2020, much of which may hinge on whether developers feel they can get market
prices for LNG.

3. Chinese importers may be more willing to sign up short-term supplies with export
facilities planned in East Africa, Canada and the United States, as well as the more
traditional suppliers such as Australia and Qatar, experts say.
The lift in domestic prices will also trim losses at PetroChina's Rudong and Dalian
import terminals, which have contracted pricey term LNG from Qatar, and at CNOOC
Ltd's Zhanjiang and Fujian terminals which will import LNG from Australia and
Indonesia.
Gas company GAIL India Ltd has already contracted around 8 million tonnes of U.S.
LNG imports, raising concerns about who would pay for the expensive imported gas.
"All the uncertainties have been put to rest now... paying a few dollars more per mmBtu
for a more certain 20-year profile isn't going to be a hard sell," said Karthik
Sathyamoorthy, head of Asia Pacific at energy consultancy Galway Group.
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