During discussions between the Energy Minister of Qatar, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, and the Indian Oil Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, in Doha, it was emphasized that Qatar intends to continue serving as a dependable provider of energy to India.
Both parties expressed the importance of maintaining stability in the global markets amidst the current tensions in West Asia.
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During a two-day trip to Qatar on April 9-10, Puri conveyed a message of unity from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the country's leadership in response to the recent conflict in the region.
Both parties expressed approval for the two-week ceasefire declared on April 8, emphasizing the importance of promptly resolving interruptions in worldwide energy distribution. The significance of ensuring unobstructed freedom of navigation and the seamless global flow of commerce to uphold supply chains was underscored by them, as stated in the communication.
The arrival of this delegation occurs at a time when New Delhi is actively pursuing strategies to ensure a stable supply of energy resources in the face of escalating geopolitical conflicts that have resulted in disruptions in global fuel trading patterns.
Qatar plays a crucial role in India's energy market, serving as the primary provider of LNG and LPG with shares of 45 percent and 20 percent, respectively. After the military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28, Tehran responded by launching a significant counterattack that specifically aimed at Gulf countries hosting American troops.
One of the targets of this retaliation was Qatar's extensive liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility, resulting in the cessation of production and the issuance of a force majeure declaration concerning gas exports, including those destined for India.
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India depends on foreign sources to fulfill around 50 percent of its natural gas requirements and approximately 66 percent of its LPG needs, which is a commonly used fuel for household cooking. The majority of these supplies are obtained from countries in West Asia. The six-week conflict has greatly disrupted energy exports from the Gulf countries, forcing India to contend with shortages in industrial supplies and the cascading effects of price increases.
During Puri's visit, it was anticipated that the discussions would center around the restoration of shipments, the evaluation of current agreements, and the exploration of opportunities to enhance bilateral energy cooperation.
Puri arrived in Doha on the afternoon of April 9, and later that evening, he held meetings with the Minister of State for Energy Affairs in Qatar, as well as with Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy. Puri delivered warm regards and a message of unity and backing from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as well as to the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
"He recalled the two telephone conversations between PM Modi and His Highness The Amir in March 2026, following the start of the conflict, during which both leaders had emphasised the urgent need to restore peace and stability in the region through dialogue and diplomacy. PM Modi had conveyed gratitude to His Highness for the care and support given by Qatar to the Indian community," it says.
The discussion between the two ministers encompassed various facets of the strategic partnership between the two nations, such as top-level interactions, commercial ties, financial investments, energy cooperation, cultural exchanges, and interpersonal connections.
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"They hoped for early return of peace and stability in the region and further strengthening of the bilateral relationship between India and Qatar”.
"Al-Kaabi reaffirmed the State of Qatar's commitment to remain a reliable energy supplier and looked forward to continuing and strengthening energy relations and cooperation with India”.
Both officials expressed satisfaction with the recent two-week ceasefire that was established on April 8th and highlighted the significance of promptly resolving disturbances in worldwide energy distribution and returning to a state of normality.
They underscored the necessity of unrestricted navigation and the unobstructed movement of trade on a global scale to uphold the integrity of international supply networks. Puri expressed gratitude to Qatar's Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Kaabi, for his gracious hospitality. Both officials mutually acknowledged the importance of maintaining frequent communication in the upcoming weeks.