Petronet to increase supply of its Kochi and Dahej plants

New Delhi, Mar 26 (UNI) In a major expansion move, Petronet LNG Limited (PLL) plans to hike its liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal capacity at its Kochi and Dahej terminals to 17 metric million tones per annum (MMTPA) by 2010.

Against this backdrop, Petronet is in the process of signing a long term agreement with Australia for supply of 2.5 million tonnes of LNG for its new terminal at Kochi. The Company is also negotiating with other countries for more supplies.

The Dahej terminal in Gujarat would be enhanced to 12 MMTPA from existing five MMTPA. The proposed Kochi terminal, which will have a capacity of five MMTPA, will be commissioned by the last quarter of 2009, while the epansion of Dahej terminal would be completed by 2010.

For Kochi project, PLL has already taken over 32 hectares from Cochin Port Trust (CoPT). The expansion of the Dahej terminal is likely to start next month. The Company has also tied up with several other companies for gas supply.

Petronet, a consortium of state-owned petroleum companies BPCL, GAIL, IOC and ONGC will have a capacity of 17MMTPA at a cost of Rs 4,000 crores, its Chairman and Managing Director P Dasgupta said.

For its expansion and increase in gas supplies, Australia is one of the many countries that Petronet has tied up with. The gas supply from Australia could come either from Gorgon in Australia, or from an ongoing North West Shelf LNG project in the continent.

Petronet has also commitments from Qatar for 2.5 mt LNG for the Kochi terminal and is planning to divert the long-term committed supplies scheduled to begin from 2009 to its terminal at Dahej, Gujarat. Petronet plans to eventually double the capacity of the Kochi terminal.

Since Dahej can process up to 6.25 mt of LNG despite its current installed capacity of 5.0 mt, Petronet is in talks with Qatar for additional 1.25 million tonnes of LNG, either on spot, short-term or medium term basis, for immediate delivery, Mr Dasgupta said.

UNI/RT SHB RK1155