L&T not to blame for Dabhol breakwater delay
Don't blame L&T for the latest delay with the Dabhol LNG terminal's breakwater.
Instead, blame challenges hiring an agency for marine studies. That's what a GAIL source tells us after we reported last month (May 2024) that the timeframe to commission the breakwater has been pushed back yet again, this time from 2024 to 2025.
"L&T is nearing completion on the breakwater work," stresses our source. "Now an important study is underway to allow Dabhol to function like any other terminal without taking a monsoon break from 2025."
Expected to be completed by next month (July 2024), the study was delayed as most government agencies specialising in marine studies were unwilling to participate in tenders. After wasting time trying to invite bids in 2023, GAIL was forced to use the nomination route and award the contract without a tender.
On February 19 (2024), GAIL finally issued a LoA to state-owned and Pune-headquartered Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) to carry out hydrodynamic modelling and simulation studies. "For studies like this, everyone prefers government agencies over private ones," he continues.
"Study reports prepared by government agencies are well received by statutory bodies, but these government agencies are reluctant to participate in a tender; CWPRS made it clear that they work only on a nomination basis." GAIL cites the Chhara LNG project to illustrate why hydrodynamic modelling and simulation studies are important.
In April 2024, HPCL had to abort the discharge of a commissioning cargo at Chhara, blaming the rough sea weather. Since it was commissioned in January 2013, Dabhol has operated only six months a year, with a monsoon break from May to September.
Operating Dabhol during the monsoon season is impossible because the sea is rough, and tankers cannot berth without a breakwater. Every year after Dabhol shuts, GAIL diverts at least 16 Dabhol cargoes to Dahej, a combination of swaps from its two US contracts, Gazprom contract cargoes and routine spot deliveries.