Gas summit to focus on changing gas market

New Delhi, (IANS) Major gas discoveries in India and the changing gas market will be discussed at the 6th Asia Gas Partnership Summit starting here March 22, a government official said Friday.

"There is a discernible shift in the pattern of supply of natural gas in terms of changing domestic and international scenario of gas availability. The global gas sector has two distinct dimensions -- competition among the buyers to secure the largest share of a limited supply and competition among the sellers to secure the largest share of the market," B.C Tripathi, chairman and managing director of Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL), told reporters.

State-run Gail has a target of laying 300-400 km of pipeline in the next 3-4 years.

"Gas is going to play a major role. The demand of energy is definitely going to grow manifold. We are taking natural gas further into the country. This event will also help us to look at the international gas market," said Tripathi.

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is organising the summit along with GAIL and the International Gas Union.

"Should India's gas pricing structure be rationalized and how India will utilize its gas produce are some issues which will be discussed at the summit," said Amit Mitra, the FICCI secretary general.

At least 400 delegates and 47 speakers from 11 countries, including the deputy premier and minister of energy and industry from Qatar, Abdullah Bin Hamad al-Attiyah, will take part in the two-day event.

Petroleum Minister Murli Deora and Commerce Minister Anand Sharma are expected to attend the summit.