July 1, 2022: The pandemic hit Indian economy is recovering fast. This is clear from the sale growth of passenger vehicles and consumption growth in petrol and diesel. The sale of passenger vehicles, two wheelers and three wheelers staged remarkable recovery in May 2022. Click column Special Database for details.

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June 30, 2022: Domestic natural gas scene in May 2022 presented dismal picture. Domestic production was below the targets by almost all producers. Import of LNG was down from the level in May 2021 resulting in lower consumption. Click Column Gas Scene for details.

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June 27, 2022 | LNG Import Deal: India Needs Clean And Tough Negotiators | Petronet LNG Ltd, which comes under the administrative control of the ministry of petroleum and natural gas, has already initiated talks with RasGas of Qatar to renew its long-term LNG import contract. The RasGas deal has had a chequered history – and has earned a besmirched reputation for being one agreement that Indian negotiators botched up completely when they negotiated the terms of the contract. The quality of the new contract, now under negotiation, too depends on the integrity of the negotiators who will have to be fielded with the approval of petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who is acknowledged to be honest and professional. If something goes wrong with the new contract, Puri will have to own responsibility. Voltaire said history never repeats itself. He added a rider: “But Man always does.” India’s ministry of petroleum and natural gas is in a piquant situation where it can test the truth of that aphorism. Click Free Access column Petro Intelligence for details.