PNGRB Calls For Tender To Develop 875 Km Natural Gas Pipeline Between Ennore Terminal In Chennai And Barshi In Maharashtra

Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), vested with the power of inviting tenders for laying gas pipelines in the country, has set the ball rolling for the development of the Ennore - Barshi gas pipeline, by inviting bids for it.

Spanning about 875 km, the natural gas pipeline will originate at Ennore LNG terminal in Tamil Nadu and traverse through Chittoor, YSR, Kurnool, Jogulamba, Raichur, Yadgir, Gulbarga and Solapur, before terminating at Barshi in Solapur district of Maharashtra.

The line will have a minimum capacity of 8 million metric standard cubic metre per day (mmscmd), including common carrier space, and will cater to the natural gas requirement in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) currently has an LNG import terminal located inside the Kamarajar Port, in Ennore, Chennai, with a capacity to process and store 5 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) of LNG.

The state-run oil major has proposed to double the capacity of the terminal as the projected demand for LNG from the Ennore Terminal is expected to increase beyond its present 5 MMTPA by 2025–26.  

The deadline for bid submissions is 16 April. Prospective participants must present a tariff bid for the natural gas pipeline covering each year of the project's economic lifespan. The chosen bidder will be responsible for the installation, construction, and operation of the natural gas pipeline.