India is holding advanced talks with Canadian firms to secure liquefied petroleum gas as tensions in West Asia tighten the supply of this key cooking fuel.
According to a senior Indian official, discussions are underway with two Canadian companies, and the first shipments to India could depart from Vancouver as early as next month or by May at the latest. The official described the talks as urgent and focused on finalising offtake agreements.
The companies involved, AltaGas, based in Calgary, and Pembina Pipeline, are engaging with Indian state-run firms, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. The official said both sides are open to long-term agreements aimed at building stable and reliable supply chains.
Responding to queries, an AltaGas spokesperson said the company has been working since 2019 to position Canada as an energy exporter to Asia, currently supplying LPG to countries such as Japan, South Korea and China through its west coast operations. The spokesperson added that while options to supply India are being explored for the medium term, no volumes are currently being shipped to the country.
Energy has emerged as a key pillar in the renewed India-Canada relationship. On March 10, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney noted in a post on X that India’s energy demand is growing faster than anywhere else in the world and that Canada, as an energy-rich nation, is well placed to benefit from this opportunity.
Hydrocarbon cooperation, including oil, LNG, LPG and refined petroleum, was also highlighted in the joint statement issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Carney in New Delhi earlier this month. The statement welcomed ongoing discussions between Indian public sector oil companies and Canadian energy firms to expand LPG cooperation. It also noted progress towards concluding India’s first long term LPG supply deal with Canada and expressed confidence that such partnerships would diversify energy trade, enhance supply security and open new avenues across the hydrocarbon sector.
The current crisis appears to have sped up these developments.
Earlier this year, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson visited India, where he participated in India Energy Week in Goa and held meetings with several Cabinet ministers. Speaking after his return, Hodgson stressed that deeper engagement with India is essential, adding that Canada’s ambition to become an energy superpower is closely tied to its partnership with India.
