State-owned GAIL India has issued a tender to acquire up to a 26% stake in a US LNG project, together with a 15-year gas import agreement for 1 mill tonnes per year, starting by 2029/2030.
This move was thought to be made to support India's efforts to reduce its trade surplus with the US.
Late last week, India was attempting to become one of the first to agree a trade deal with the US, as President Donald Trump's announcement of sweeping tariffs has triggered a trade war with China and efforts by other countries to negotiate.
India's largest gas distributor has invited initial bids from companies, as it seeks to buy equity in an existing LNG liquefication project or a new project that would be commissioned by 2030 at the latest, a document published on its website said.
No US projects have been named as potential candidates thus far.
