The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, today said the barge-mounted floating processing unit will be ready to supply gas within eight months easing pressure on gas-starved independent power plants.

Speaking to newspersons informally today, he said two processing units will come in the State one at Gangavaram port and another floating vessel at Kakinada. The former will take about 30 months to establish. These will facilitate use of imported gas.

He said two more proposals have come to the State for setting up gas processing units. The gas is brought at extreme low temperature and hated and then evacuated to pipelines for supply to gas plants.

Expressing concern about the shortage of gas, the Chief Minister said that the Centre should probe whether the gas shortage from KG-basin is artificially created.

“I have discussed the issue with the Union Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar and taken up the issue with the Prime Minister,” he said.

He said that about Rs 1,60,000 crore worth projects with potential to provide 1,40,000 jobs are at various stages of implementation. In addition, investment worth Rs.1,25,000 crore by the public sector undertakings is at advanced stage.

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