Natural gas squeeze on HBJ
A Reuters report appearing in Indias Economic Times says natural gas supplies through the HBJ pipeline will be cut drastically between 1 March and 30 April next year.
Quoting unnamed officials, the report said ONGCs natural gas terminal at Hazira will have to close for two months to allow for new compressor and booster platforms to be hooked up to the Bassein gasfield. During the shutdown, it will be possible to transport just 18.3m cubic metres a day (cm/d) (a drop of 40%) through the HBJ, and 3.7m cm/d to adjacent industries.
In so doing, ONGC will be unable to fulfil the target set by Indias Gas Linkage Committee - which allocates gas distribution to industrial units - to supply 30.24m cm/d through the HBJ.