Kochi terminal: Petronet final bids next month

Our Bureau

MUMBAI, Nov. 22

PETRONET LNG Ltd (PLL) is to call for final technical bids from the six pre-qualified bidders for the engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contract for its 2.5-million tonne LNG terminal at Kochi, in December.

The bidders will be asked to reply to our RFPs (request for proposals) next month, a senior PLL official said.

According to company officials, last month, six consortia had submitted bids for the Rs 1,500-crore EPC contract. These include the Japanese companies IHI-Mitsui and Chiyoda Corporation, Daelim Industrial Company from Korea and Technigaz of France.

The EPC contract is likely to be granted in the next quarter, the official said.

Petronet LNG has tied up with Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company (RasGas) of Qatar for supplying 7.5 million tonnes LNG to its Dahej terminal (5 mmtpa) and Kochi terminal (2.5 mmtpa), respectively.

The company has identified consumers for its regasified LNG in and around Kochi, officials said. The storage and regasification facilities at the planned terminal include unloading arms, two tanks of 110,000 cubic metre capacity each, vapourisation system and off-site facilities.

The 2.5-million tonne terminal is equivalent to 10 mmscmd natural gas with an expansion provision of up to 5 mmtpa. The Cochin Port Trust has allocated 40 hectares at Puthu Vypeen Island for development of the terminal which includes construction of jetty and breakwater, according to officials.

The project is expected to be completed by June 2004.