Royal Dutch (Shell) is likely to
bid along with Total of France for supplying LNG to NTPC's Kawas
and Gandhar projects.
Shell, which is in the fray for
both supply of 3 million tpa of LNG and for providing import and
regassification facilities, has sought an extension of the
bidding deadline from 27 April 2004 to 18 May 2004, so as to firm
up its tie-up with Total's subsidiary Yemen LNG.
Total, it may be mentioned,
acquired 26 per cent stake in Shell's Hazira LNG terminal project
in Gujarat, and holds 36 per cent stake in Yemen LNG.
NTPC has got three bids for supply
of LNG for its Kawas and Gandhar projects (each 650 MW). Besides
Yemen LNG, the other bidders are Shell (through Hazira LNG
terminal) and Petronet LNG (through the Dahej terminal). Reliance
Industries has also bid for the supply of natural gas.
Shell and Total, it is understood,
will synchronize their bids so as to import LNG from Yemen LNG
and regassify it at Hazira.