India seeks easing of US restrictions on importing gas.

NEW DELHI: Keen to import gas from the US to meet its rising energy needs, India will tomorrow ask Washington to ease restrictions on sales to countries with which it does not have a free trade agreement (FTA).

Washington has till now allowed conditional export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from five of its projects to nations with which the US does not have a free trade agreement, so-called 'non-FTA' countries. India does not have a FTA with the US till now.

The issue of LNG exports to non-FTA nations will figure at the Indo-US Energy Dialogue tomorrow, official said.

US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia will lead the two sides at the talks, which were previously postponed due to row over treatment of Indian diplomat in US.

Gas-surplus US at present allows exports of small amounts of natural gas. It has so far allowed only Sabine Pass, Freeport, Lake Charles Exports, Dominion Cove Point LNG and the most recently Cameron LNG LLC terminal in Louisiana to export LNG to non-FTA countries.

Indian companies led by state-owned GAIL have already signed agreements with US firms to buy as much as 3.5 million tons a year of LNG.

Officials said the issue of India's energy engagement with Iran is unlikely to figure during talks as New Delhi does not want US to dictate terms of its ties with third countries.

Joint research in clean energy will however figure prominently during the Indo-US talks tomorrow, they said.

Indo-US collaboration in increasing efficiency of solar photovoltic cells by using local content and second generation bio-fuel production using non-edible oilseeds produced locally will also be discussed during talks, they said.

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com