Krishnapatnam (AP) : Shipping Corporation of India and GAIL (India) Limited are currently in discussion to forge a tie-up under which the latter will acquire nine LNG ships with almost $3 billion and the former will run them, a senior official of the SCI said.
SCI Director (liner and passenger services) Sarveen Narula said the shipper will have an option to pick up stake up to 25 per cent once a joint venture company is formed for the purpose and talks are held through respective ministries. “We are trying to buy nine LNG ships, not through SCI but through GAIL. SCI will run those ships in partnership with GAIL. We are actively working with GAIL in selection of (other) partners.”
SCI is currently running four LNG ships through joint venture companies with Japanese partners among others, in which the Indian PSU holds 26 per cent stake. -PTI
Diwakar Gopavajhala
