KOCHI: With the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC)’s LPG import terminal at Puthuvypeen near Kochi getting the National Green Tribunal’s nod, the LPG sector in south India is edging towards consolidation.
“The LPG import terminal is important since the indigenous availability of LPG in the country is only half of the demand. The LPG customer base in the country is 15 crore, which is expected to double by 2020. LPG demand in the country is growing by 11 per cent,” said P S Mony, general manager and state head - Kerala, IOC.
Indian Oil is constructing the LPG terminal having a capacity of six lakh tonnes per year at Puthuvypeen SEZ of Cochin Port. The project also includes laying of a pipeline from the Jetty to BPCL Kochi refinery via IOC’s LPG Plant at Kochi. This pipeline would be hooked to the Kochi-Salem pipeline, which is also under construction. The project, which includes an LPG terminal being constructed by BPCL at Palakkad, is expected to cost Rs 2,200 Crore. The pipeline is being constructed jointly by IOC and BPCL.
“LPG imports are expected to rise significantly by 2020 from the current levels of 50 per cent and Indian Oil is augmenting the LPG infrastructure across the country including setting up of 23 new bottling plants, the Mundra-Gorakhpur LPG Pipeline, besides the import terminal at Kochi and the Kochi-Salem Pipeline. The LPG terminal at Kochi has been targeted to be completed by February 2018. The LPG import terminal and the pipeline would ensure a smooth and safe transportation of LPG. The transportation of LPG through the pipeline would help us avoid 500 bullet trucks on the road thereby reducing road traffic,” said Mony.
Kerala’s LPG consumption is also expected to rise significantly by 2019.