Wanted: more gas pipelines in southern India

Vol 27, PW 2 (25 Jan 24) Midstream, Downstream, Renewables
 

Southern India is known for its beautiful landscapes, beaches and temples.

But the PNGRB wants to put it on the gas pipeline infrastructure map of India. Since December 2023, the PNGRB has initiated moves to lay three new gas pipelines in southern India; the latest is a 425-km pipeline connecting Petronet-LNG's Kochi terminal with IndianOil's Ennore terminal.

On January 15 (2024), the PNGRB launched a public consultation process for the proposed pipeline passing through Kerala and Tamil Nadu, inviting views and comments from stakeholders within 30 days. Under the tentative route, the pipeline will run south from Kochi to Kottayam, a spice trading centre, before heading further south to Kottarakkara, the birthplace of popular dance drama Kathakali.

Then it will connect Kattakkada, a town 22-km from Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram, and home to the Neyyar Dam and the Neyyar and Agasthyavanam wildlife sanctuaries. From Kattakkada, the pipeline will enter Tamil Nadu via Kanyakumari, India's southernmost point, before running north to Sathankulam, known for its groundnut farms.

On the last leg, the pipeline will connect Thoothukudi (formerly Tuticorin) port and meet the under-construction Ennore R-LNG evacuation pipeline, which runs through Thiruvallur, Nagapattinam and Madurai and central government-controlled Puducherry and Bengaluru. On January 2 (2024), Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ennore R-LNG evacuation pipeline to Thoothukudi, but operator IndianOil has yet to lay all the spur lines.

Under the public consultation, the PNGRB wants to determine the best termination point for the proposed Ennore to Kochi pipeline. "We also want to know the best route and minimum gas carrying capacity," says a PNGRB source.

"Gas demand in southern India is growing, and pipelines are critical; we have to replicate the western India model, where pipelines connect Dahej, Hazira and Dabhol." A CGD sector source welcomes the PNGRB initiative.

"City gas retail is expanding in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka," he says. "But because of the lack of pipelines, the Kochi and Ennore LNG terminals have poor utilisation."