The Indian company said it had approached 10 LNG companies to supply bids for its contract.

"We are seeking a fixed LNG price of US$3 per million British Thermal Units (BTU). We will invite price bids by August," NTPC chairman CP Jain is reported to have said.

"Ten LNG companies have given requests for qualification for supply of LNG and four companies have also been given requests for qualification for natural gas," Jain said.

A spokesman for the North West Shelf said it was aware of the deal and had looked at it. He said the Indian market was one the company looked at from time to time but they were concentrating on growing the business from existing customers and on the new markets of China and Korea.

Woodside was an unsuccessful tenderer for an Indian LNG supply contract a few years ago, despite committing to be an equity partner in the LNG receival terminal.