IMPORT OF LNG
LOK SABHA
Fertilizer plants,
which use natural gas for feed stock and fuel, are facing shortage
of natural gas because of dwindling domestic gas supplies. Import
of natural gas including liquefied natural gas (LNG) is under
Open General Licence (OGL) and therefore does not require Government
approval.
However, the Government
has approved the formation of a Joint Venture of Indian Oil Corporation,
Bharat Petroeum Corporation Limited, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
Limited and Gas Authority of India Limited by the name of Petronet
LNG Limited (PLL). PLL is setting up an LNG terminal at Dahej
in Gujarat for the import of five million tonne per annum of LNG.
The terminal is expected to be commissioned by first quarter of
2004. PLL also plans to set up an LNG terminal at Kochi for which
almost all pre-project activities have been completed. Further
progress will depend on market tie-ups for the gas. The re-gasified
LNG from the Dahej terminal may be available for meeting the deficit
of fertilizer plants also.
This information
was given by the Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers,
Dr. Chhattra Pal Singh, in a written reply to a question in the
Lok Sabha today.
