RoydadNaft –  India’s state-owned oil behemoth, Indian Oil Corp (IOC), has kicked off a tender hunt for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo slated for January delivery, according to two insiders in the energy trade.

The bid targets a single shipment arriving on January 20 at the Dahej terminal on India’s west coast, one of the sources specified. IOC, the nation’s largest refiner and a key player in its push toward cleaner fuels, is bolstering its LNG stockpiles amid rising domestic demand and global supply jitters.

The tender window slams shut today, December 9, leaving potential suppliers little time to pounce.

This move underscores India’s aggressive appetite for LNG, as the country races to diversify energy sources and cut reliance on pricier spot market buys. With winter heating needs looming in key export regions, such tenders could signal tighter global LNG flows heading into 2026.