GAIL India has delayed its long-awaited LNG carrier tender again. The state-run gas utility has put its $7bn tender for nine new LNG ships back by a month, the fourth time it has postponed the tender. The ships will transport gas from the US from December next year. Bids can now be accepted through to the end of this month.
“The postponement has been done at the request of bidders to allow them time to finalise their bids,” GAIL chairman and managing director B C Tripathi said, adding: “There are no changes in tender conditions.”
Three of the nine ships must be built in India, the tender stipulates, a move that has seen two of South Korea’s largest yards form joint ventures in India.
The ships will be operated by Shipping Corporation of India.
