The Hindu Business Line : Work on Kochi LNG project to be expedited

A HIGH-LEVEL meeting of officials convened here by the Chief Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, late on Wednesday evening decided to expedite work on the Rs 6,600-crore LNG project so as to commission the same latest by year 2006.

The Cochin Port Trust has set apart 98 acres for the project, which has received all clearances from the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment and the Central Pollution Control Board.

An agreement has already been reached with the Qatar-based Ras Gas for annual supply of 7.5 mt of LNG for a period of 25 years. Of this, 2.5 mt would be earmarked for the Kochi project, while the rest will go to the Dahej project in Gujarat.

The Kayamkulam thermal plant was being expanded to generate an additional 1,950 MW using LNG by August next year, according to the Executive Director of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), who attended the meeting. Replacement of naphtha fuel with LNG would lead to reduction of the unit price of electricity from Kayamkulam to Rs 2.30 from the existing Rs 3.80.

The gas co-operation agreement between the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) would be renewed.

The NTPC and the KSIDC would sign an agreement on the expansion project next month itself. GAIL will lay gas pipeline for a distance of 550 km in the State at a cost of Rs 1,600 crore. Work on the project would begin early next year, the Chief Minister said.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication

Stories in this Section
`Auto market growth hinges on broad spectrum economy'

Chlor-alkali sector seeks duty sops on spares

Juster pitches for greater Indo-US cooperation

`Expansion of trade links key to diffusing outsourcing concerns'

Initiative to project Maharashtra as healthcare tourism destination

CII meet on telemedicine

Privatisation: Perils of dithering

Retail, bulk sales of diesel get better

Work on Kochi LNG project to be expedited

Small hydro projects: Guidelines to States on private sector's role

CPDCL to open more customer service centres