KOCHI: BPCL Kochi Refinery has received clearance from the Environment Ministry for its `337-crore pipeline project. The 13-km pipeline will be laid from South Tanker Berth near Fine Arts Hall to the Ambalamugal unit of Kochi Refinery. Under the project, heat-traced pipelines will be laid for transfer of high-pour intermediates like high and low sulphur vacuum residues and vacuum gas oil (VGO), thereby adding further value to BPCL. Diesel and Petroleum coke (petcoke) can be produced from the vacuum residues. It is a major development as the State proposes to set up a petcoke power plant near the Integrated Refinery Expansion Project site of Kochi Refinery. “Based on the recommendations of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), the Environment Ministry has given Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance to BPCL’s project to lay heat-traced pipeline from South Tanker Berth to Kochi Refinery,” said a senior government official, adding that CRZ clearance was granted to the project subject to conditions.