Sector Update | 17 November 2021
Oil & Gas
Oil & Gas
Our Reports
High tide to leave long lasting treasures
Higher spot LNG prices bode well for the future
As a result of a demand-supply mismatch, spot LNG prices rose to USD38/mmBtu from
USD2/mmBtu in May’20.
Our research shows that higher spot LNG prices have resulted in a culmination of more
long term LNG contracts in CY21, thereby raising the Final Investment Decisions (FIDs)
for LNG liquefaction terminals going forward.
Higher number of FIDs would help increase the supply of LNG, thereby reducing the
slope of gas to oil. Favorable gas prices would bode well for India’s Gas sector in the
medium term. Key beneficiaries: GAIL, GUJGA, GUJS, and PLNG.
Higher spot LNG prices, a blessing in disguise
From a low of USD2/mmBtu in May’20, spot LNG prices have risen to
USD38/mmBtu on: a) delays in upcoming LNG terminals due to the COVID-19
pandemic, b) increased demand from China due to the replacement of coal, and
c) supply disruptions, primarily in the US.
On the brighter side, higher spot LNG prices have revived the long-term LNG
market, with the signing of ~32mmtpa of SPAs (sales and purchase agreements)
in CY21 till date as against 22-23mmtpa each in CY20 and CY19.
Higher long-term SPAs are likely to result in more FIDs, which over the next few
years would result in a decline in spot LNG prices (Exhibit
1)
and thus the slope
of gas to oil, thereby favoring consumption of gas over oil.
After remaining stagnant ~70mmscmd for the past five years, domestic gas
available for commercial consumption has risen to ~80mmscmd in the past few
months. Domestic gas production would get a further boost, primarily from RIL
(+12mmscmd) and ONGC’s (+15mmscmd) assets in the KG Basin.
Since domestic gas availability would not suffice the demand of ~220mmscmd
projected in FY27E (Exhibit
5),
import infrastructure would remain key to growth
in gas consumption. We expect India’s available LNG capacity to rise to
66.5mmtpa in the next 3-4 years from 42.5mmtpa.
Key trunk pipelines like Jagdishpur-Haldia, Kochi-Bangalore, Mehsana-Bhatinda,
and North East grid would facilitate better gas penetration.
We conclude that favorable gas prices would benefit domestic consumption,
thereby benefiting the overall gas sector in the country. Key champions on this
theme are GUJGA, GUJS, and GAIL.
GAIL (Buy with a TP of INR200):
In light of commodity prices turning favorable
again (higher spot prices in the medium term, increase in petchem margin in
3QFY22, and better LPG price realization) and the reality of de-risking US Henry
Hub contracts (eight cargoes in 2Q v/s 14 in 1QFY22 sold outside India) coming
to light,
we reiterate GAIL as our top pick in the largecap space.
GUJS (Buy with a TP of INR450):
PNGRB has taken up tariff review of GUJS' HPP
grid to determine the new tariff from FY22 onwards and would adjust it for the
new tax regime. Proposed capex stands at INR45.4b till FY32 on a net block of
India’s gas consumption: higher availability + better infrastructure = growth
Valuation and recommendation
Swarnendu Bhushan - Research Analyst
(Swarnendu.Bhushan@MotilalOswal.com)
Sarfraz Bhimani, CFA - Research Analyst
(Sarfraz.Bhimani@MotilalOswal.com)
17 November 2021
Motilal Oswal research is available on www.motilaloswal.com/Institutional-Equities, Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters, Factset and S&P Capital.
Investors are advised to refer through important disclosures made at the last page of the Research Report.
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