Speakers at a workshop on ‘LNG – Ensure no further delays' have stressed the need for a national pool pricing policy for LNG , and also advocated for an administrative pricing mechanism for priority sectors, particularly the fertiliser industry.
The workshop highlighted the huge benefits of using LNG for the fertiliser industry, power sector, motor transport and households. The environmental concerns of the local people related to the operation of the LNG Terminal and pipe laying were also discussed at the meeting.
The workshop was organised by The FACT Employees Association, with the technical assistance from the Centre for Green Technology and Management, Kochi. CGTM is a trust formed for promoting green energy concepts in the State and to popularise green technology concepts in the society by conducting seminars, education programmes and voluntary consultancy seminars.
LNG terminal
The speakers were of the view that LNG terminal when commissioned would speed up the State industrialisation process on one hand, while major public sector undertakings such as FACT would derive greater financial benefits once they switch over to LNG as fuel because of the cost effective rates.
Mr V.K.Anil, Technical Director, FACT, inaugurated the workshop. Papers were presented by Dr M.P Sukumaran Nair, Director CGTM, on LNG-Impact on Kerala's Industrial Development; Mr Neelankantan from Petronet LNG Ltd on the ‘Status of Kochi LNG Terminal Project;' Mr Ramesh, GAIL, on the ‘Pipe Line Laying project for Kochi LNG Terminal;' Mr Jayachandran, FACT on the Impact of LNG as Fuel and Feedstock on FACT; Dr Madhu, Cochin University of Science and Technology, on ‘Environmental and Safety Aspects of LNG;' and Mr K Chandran Pillai, CITU, on the Pricing Policy related to LNG.
The workshop was well participated and the delegates included representatives from the industries in and around Udyogamandal and also the representatives from local panchayaths and municipalities. The workshop came out with an educative and informative booklet on LNG, which is the first-of-its-kind in the State.