In the firing line: Essar pipeline
Bharat Petroleum and Gujarat State Petronet (GSPL) have joined IndianOil Adani Gas in condemning Essar's dedicated CBM pipelines from Raniganj to customers in West Bengal's Burdwan district.
At 3pm on March 27 (2024), IOAGPL, BPCL, GSPL, and GSPL India Gasnet (GIGL) repeated their objections during an 'open house' hosted by the PNGRB in Delhi. Representing the PNGRB were members Gajendra Singh and AK Tiwari.
Essar, GAIL and IGX were also present. On February 23 (2024), GSPL general manager commercial Devendra Agarwal wrote to the PNGRB arguing that allowing Essar's unauthorised pipelines to be converted to a common carrier "would be a disregard of the (PNGRB) regulatory framework."
Agarwal said all Essar's customers should be transferred to the PNGRB's authorised CGD operator for that area. Agarwal added that converting the Essar pipelines to a common carrier would adversely affect the utilisation and viability of the existing/proposed network of the authorised CGD operator.
On February 6 (2024), BPCL general manager gas projects Milind Labhane told the PNGRB that it is the authorised CGD operator for Purulia and Bankura in West Bengal. Labhane argued that Essar's proposal to lay a CBM pipeline to the Barjora industrial area in Bankura would adversely affect BPCL's gas retail plans.
He stressed that CGD regulations stipulate that customers who need up to 50,000 cm/d of gas should be supplied through the CGD network. Labhane said BPCL has already begun laying a pipeline to Barjora and that the PNGRB should reject Essar's proposal.
On February 14 (2024), IOAGPL chief operating officer Bhashit Dholakia said it is the authorised CGD operator for Burdwan. Dholakia wants the Essar CBM pipelines dismantled, and all customers transferred to IOAGPL.