Archive · 5 Oct 2026
India Seeks Qatar Investment as Refining Capacity Rises
India wants its refineries to make more fuel, increasing their capacity from 5.4 million barrels a day to more than 6.2 million.
It hopes to attract investment from Qatar as well as Gulf energy producers Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Indian and Qatari officials have discussed energy cooperation, trade and keeping fuel supplies and shipping routes reliable.
They also discussed investment in energy-processing facilities.
Qatar and India already have a long-term gas trade relationship.
In 2024, Petronet LNG extended a contract to buy 7.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas each year from QatarEnergy.
The countries’ finance ministers discussed a $10 billion Qatari investment commitment and other ways to strengthen financial ties.
These included a proposed investment treaty, wider use of Indian UPI payments in Qatar and a tax agreement.
India plans to increase refining capacity from 5.4 million barrels per day to more than 6.2 million.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have shown interest in financing Indian refinery projects, and India is also seeking investment from Qatar.
In April, Hardeep Singh Puri met Qatar’s Saad Sherida al-Kaabi in Doha to discuss energy cooperation, investment, trade and maritime supply security.
India and Qatar discussed implementing a $10 billion Qatari investment commitment and finalising a Bilateral Investment Treaty.
Their finance ministers also discussed UPI expansion in Qatar, Qatar’s engagement with India’s National Infrastructure and Investment Fund, and a tax agreement.
- Who
- India and Qatar; Saudi Arabia and the UAE are also described as interested in Indian refinery projects.
- What
- India is seeking investment as it plans to expand refining capacity, while India and Qatar discuss energy and financial cooperation.
- When
- The petroleum ministers met in April; the finance ministers met on September 29. The article identifies the latter meeting as taking place during the AIIB 2026 annual meeting.
- Where
- Doha, Qatar, for the reported meetings; the refinery expansion is in India.
- Why
- India plans to meet rising domestic fuel requirements and attract investment across its energy value chain.
Investment opportunities
What is established
Potential Qatari refinery investment
Investment opportunities
India is seeking more Qatari investment and discussions increasingly include equity participation in energy-processing assets.
What is established
The reports describe investment discussions and a $10 billion commitment, but do not state that Qatar has finalized an investment in a specific Indian refinery.
Energy cooperation
Investment opportunities
Officials emphasized broader cooperation, including investment in processing assets and reliable fuel supplies and maritime commerce.
What is established
The established trade relationship highlighted in the reports is long-term LNG supply, including Petronet LNG’s contract with QatarEnergy.
- Current refining capacity
- 5.4 million barrels per day
- Planned refining capacity
- More than 6.2 million barrels per day
- Qatari investment commitment discussed
- $10 billion
- LNG purchase contract
- Petronet LNG extended a 20-year contract in 2024 to buy 7.5 million tonnes annually from QatarEnergy, through July 2028 and beyond.
- Petroleum ministers’ meeting
- Hardeep Singh Puri met Saad Sherida al-Kaabi during a two-day official visit to Doha in April.
- Finance ministers’ meeting
- Nirmala Sitharaman and Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari met on September 29 on the sidelines of the AIIB 2026 annual meeting in Doha.
- Other topics discussed
- A Bilateral Investment Treaty, expansion of Indian UPI payments in Qatar, Qatar’s engagement with India’s National Infrastructure and Investment Fund, and a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement.
