India’s Petronet LNG is in talks with Qatar to source some liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US under a renewed long-term supply agreement starting in 2028, as New Delhi seeks to diversify imports following disruptions caused by the Iran war, Reuters reported on November 3.

Qatar is willing to consider the request, Petronet Group General Manager Vivek Mittal said, adding that Qatar could supply a portion of the contracted volumes from other sources where it has secured supply agreements, according to Reuters.

Qatar, India’s largest LNG supplier, currently has a contract to supply Petronet with 7.5 million tons per year (mtpa) of LNG. The agreement, which expires in April 2028, has been renewed for another 20 years through 2048, with cargoes supplied on a delivered basis.

QatarEnergy signed a 20-year agreement in October to purchase 3 mtpa of LNG from Woodside’s US facilities, with deliveries expected to begin in 2030. It also signed two agreements with Cheniere Energy to purchase up to 4 mtpa through 2054 from the Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi LNG plants.

QatarEnergy declared force majeure on LNG supplies in March after the Iran war disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and attacks hit its Ras Laffan facilities. The force majeure was set to remain in effect through December, according to Reuters.

The disruption has prompted India to seek alternative LNG supplies from countries including the US, Oman, Nigeria, Angola and Australia.

Petronet has also suspended time-charter agreements for three LNG tankers because of the force majeure on Qatari supplies.