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Kochi: After a delay of decades, the Gas Authority of India Limited (Gail) is all set to commission Kochi-Mangaluru Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pipeline next month. Once the project is through, sales of LNG from the Puthuvyppu terminal will go up considerably benefitting the state government.
Gail has resumed the work of laying pipes that had been stopped due to the lockdown. Only a small stretch in the Kasaragod district remains to be completed. “Barring a small stretch across Chandragiri river, laying of the pipeline has been completed and it will be over within a month unless there is any fresh hindrance. So, we expect that the Kochi-Bengaluru LNG pipeline network can be commissioned by the first week of June,” said P Murugesan, executive director, Gail.
According to Gail authorities, pre-commissioning activities are going on in full swing. Supply of LNG from LNG Petronet, Puthuvype in Kochi is expected to go up once the pipeline is commissioned.
“Many of the industrial units in and around Mangaluru are waiting for LNG connection. Our priority should be giving supply to industries like Mangalore Chemical and Fertilizers Limited (MCF). They had been waiting for the supply for quite some time. So, the supply of LNG from Kochi will go up by one million cubic feet soon. The increase in the supply will touch around 3 million cubic feet in the next few months after the commissioning of the pipeline,” Murugesan said.
“Many small-scale industrial units, commercial units like hotels and other firms along Kochi-Mangaluru are also waiting for LNG connectivity. At a time when almost all the sectors are facing economic recession, connectivity of LNG which is cheaper, more effective, and safer than other fuels will be a boon for many industrial and commercial units,” Murugesan said. “Moreover, the tax revenue from LNG supply will also go up and the Kerala government will be benefitted out of that,” he said.
Commissioning of the Kochi-Mangaluru pipeline will also help expedite work on city gas projects in the northern districts of Kerala as well as in Mangaluru. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has awarded the work on city gas projects in the districts from Ernakulam to Kasaragod to IOC-Adani Gas Private Limited. With Gail already commissioning the pipeline along Kochi-Chandragiri, city gas projects in the northern districts of Kerala can be started without any delay.