Centre for Green Technology and Management has sought Kerala Government’s intervention in resolving the issues connected with pipeline laying by GAIL for the Kochi LNG project.
The Kochi-based CGTM is a non-profitable consultancy organisation promoting clean energy and sustainable development in the State.
Delay
M.P. Sukumaran Nair, Director, CGTM, said that the project was supposed to be commissioned in 2003 along with the Petronet’s Dahej (phase I) project. The State would lose tremendously on account of the delay.
He urged the State Government to ensure coordination of different agencies and departments so that the pipelines from Kochi to various parts become a reality in the immediate future.
Nair said that industries, commerce, households and the auto sector have been waiting for long to take advantage of this environment-friendly and cost-effective energy resource. Among the several proposals to build infrastructure in the State, the construction of the Kochi LNG Terminal is the most important.
This is because of the fact that it will bring in a sweeping change to the life of the people by providing access to an energy resource at one third the price they are paying and also less polluting than the others, he said.
It will also make the unutilised power utilities in the State to the tune of 555 MW (NTPC and BSES) economically viable and breathe fresh life into the ailing FACT, he said.
Natural gas (mostly methane) is a cheap, environment-friendly feedstock and energy source. With the rise in the crude price, the cost of industrial fuels naphtha and furnace oil is going beyond the affordability of industries.
Dahej success
The Dahej terminal proposed along with Kochi became operational in 2003 had its capacity was doubled to 5 MMTPA in 2005 and further expansion to the 12.5 MMTPA level is under way.
Re-gassified liquid natural gas (RLNG) is now available from Dahej terminal through GAIL pipelines at $ 4.3 per MMBTU to power plants, fertilizer producers, sponge iron units etc, he said.