<India Energy Week 2026> MOL and GAIL Sign a Long-Term Charter Contract for an LNG Carrier

January 28, 2026

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto, Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo) and GAIL (India) Limited (GAIL; Head Office: New Delhi, India) entered into a long-term charter agreement for an LNG carrier named "GAIL BHUWAN". The signing ceremony was held on 27th January 2026 during India Energy Week 2026 in Goa. The agreement was signed between GAIL and LNG Japonica Shipping Corporation Limited, a Joint Venture between MOL (74%) and GAIL (26%). Hisashi Umemura, Senior Managing Executive Officer, Director General, Headquarters of Energy Business, MOL, and Mr. Shri. S Bairagi, Executive Director (International Shipping & LNG), GAIL, inked the agreement in the presence of CMD, GAIL and other functional directors of GAIL along with dignitaries from MOL.

MOL and GAIL share a long-standing business partnership, and this collaboration further strengthens cooperation in LNG shipping and energy logistics. Relying on MOL's proven track record in providing reliable transportation services including its high standards of safety, quality and strong partnership, the agreement marks an important milestone under the 'Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047', reinforcing India's maritime and energy supply chain capabilities. Both MOL and GAIL have set the ambitious net zero emission targets, and this agreement contributes to the realization of a low- and decarbonized world.

MOL has positioned regional strategy as one of the key pillars of its group management plan "BLUE ACTION 2035," identifying Asia as a region expected to deliver strong economic growth. In India in particular, where economic development has been remarkable, MOL has long been actively expanding its business presence. Through the expansion of its energy business, including this project, and further strengthening of its partnership with GAIL, MOL group will continue to play a part in the transport and logistics infrastructure that supports rapidly growing demand for energy, including natural gas, and contributing to stable energy supply.

GAIL (India) Limited is India's leading natural gas company with diversified interests across the natural gas value chain of trading, transmission, LPG production & transmission, LNG shipping, LNG re-gasification, petrochemicals, city gas, E&P, etc. The company owns and operates a network of over 18001 km of natural gas pipelines spread across the length and breadth of the country. In the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) segment, GAIL (India) Limited has a significantly large and diversified LNG portfolio to ensure long term supply security. GAIL is also among the top global LNG portfolio marketers. As part of its logistics integration strategy, the company has built the largest LNG fleet in the country, strengthening India's maritime capabilities and ensuring uninterrupted LNG availability to meet India's growing domestic demand.