LNG is the second-largest growth point — after oil — in the Russia-India energy relationship. But while Delhi has steadily and confidently ramped up its oil purchases, gas is a more complicated story. India has been avoiding sanctioned batches of Russian LNG, even though its interest in the Arctic’s resource base is clear. In the summer of 2026, the issue moved back to the centre of the bilateral agenda, against the backdrop of Asia’s rising gas potential and the continuing search for alternative energy sources.
India is already one of the world’s largest LNG importers: by the end of 2025 the country ranked fifth globally by import volume, behind China, Japan, South Korea and France. Current annual imports run at roughly 27–30 million tonnes, handled through seven regasification terminals with a combined capacity of about 48 million tonnes a year. The supplier structure remains fairly conservative and tied to traditional exporters. Qatar accounts for about 41 per cent of the market, the United States for about 19 per cent, the UAE for about 11 per cent, and African states (Nigeria, Angola, Cameroon) for about 10 per cent.Major projects and buyers
India’s strategic ambitions go well beyond current figures. New Delhi aims to raise gas’ share of its energy mix to 15 per cent by 2030 (from roughly 6 per cent today), and the International Energy Agency projects that the country’s LNG demand could rise to 40-50 million tonnes a year. To meet that target, India plans to expand existing terminal capacity and build new terminals — primarily on the east coast, which would also open up potential supply routes from the east, including via the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor.
