Gail planning Rs 2,366 cr pipeline grid

Gail India Ltd has chalked out gas pipeline projects worth Rs 2,366 crore under a programme which envisages creation of infrastructure for linking gas sources to gas markets.

The company has recently been assigned the job of transporting profit gas, which is the government's gas share under the production sharing contracts signed with private companies.

The pipeline projects are being implemented as part of a larger programme, which the company has termed as 'arterial energy flow programme'.

According to Gail chairman and managing director Proshanto Banerjee, the new job for transporting profit gas will give a further thrust to the programme.

Officials said it could also mean more business for pipelines being planned and constructed under the programme. Gail is at present undertaking four major projects.

The 450-km Dahej-Uran pipeline with an estimated investment of Rs 1,800 crore is expected to be ready in 21 months. The company has tied up offtake for about 6 million standard cubic metre per day (mmscmd) of gas. The 30 inch diameter pipeline will supply 12 mmscmd gas to consumers in south Gujarat, Tombay, Thal and Salav.

Another project which is coming up is the 139-km Thulendi-Phulpur pipeline at a cost of Rs 22 crore. It is an 18 inch diameter pipeline and is designed to carry 2.8 mmscmd gas to Iffco's Phulpur plant.

The 191-km pipeline to supply gas to Chambal Fertiliser and other industries in and around Kota is being laid from Vijaipur at a cost of Rs 300 crore. It will carry 3.47 mmscmd of gas.

Among the regional pipelines is the 48-km Narimanam-Kuthalam interconnection in the Kaveri Basin which is being implemented to supply gas to independent power producers at a cost of Rs 46 crore.