The consortium of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Gail India Ltd and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has finalised the route for the Indo-Bangladesh pipeline based on the recommendations of a study conducted by the Indian Market Research Bureau (IMRB).
The study was conducted on the natural gas markets in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh.
The pipeline is expected to feed the industrial centres of Durgapur, Raniganj, Bokaro and Renukoot.
According to the IMRB report, the proposed pipeline route from the Bangladesh border to the targetted markets should pass through Durgapur, Andal, Raniganj, Asansol, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Bhurkunda, Renukoot and Phulpur, and connect to the Hazira-Bijapur-Jagdishpur (HBJ) pipeline at Jagdishpur.
One spur line will pass through Bardhman, Howrah, Kolkata to Haldia, while another line will connect the pipeline from Phulpur to Gorakhpur for the proposed Kribhco fertiliser plant.
Senior IOC officials say the consortium has decided that West Bengal being the first landfall point will be given the first right of refusal.
The consortium is working aggressively on its pre-project activities following indications that the Bangladesh government is likely to take a decision in favour of gas exports to India soon.
Indian Oil Corporation has already completed a reconnaissance survey, and is now working on a series of detailed feasibility and costing reports.
