State-owned ONGC has forged a strategic alliance with Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines to develop, own, and operate two Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLECs) to transport imported ethane intended for its subsidiary, ONGC Petro Additions Limited (OPaL). This initiative aligns with India’s shift away from ethane-rich LNG from Qatar under upcoming contract revisions in 2028. ONGC’s investment in ethane extraction infrastructure at Dahej and OPaL’s dual-feed cracker system necessitates a reliable ethane supply chain.