IOC gets regulator's nod for Ennore LNG pipeline.

The proposed ₹5,150-crore Ennore LNG Terminal project has crossed a key milestone with the promoter Indian Oil Corporation getting the authorisation to lay the Ennore-Tuticorin pipeline for the project.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has authorised IOC to lay the 1,170-km pipeline linking the terminal to come up at Ennore to important consumption centres.

The pipeline will link Ennore-Thiruvallur-Bengaluru-Puducherry-Nagapattinam-Madurai-Tuticorin. The pipeline is a ₹2,800-crore project to be implemented by IOC. This is a crucial stage in IOC making available natural gas to fuel industry and houses in Tamil Nadu by mid-2018 using LNG imported at the proposed Ennore Terminal.

The public sector oil company is confident of having the infrastructure to supply the fuel in the State by mid-2018, according to the company officials.

At a recent meeting with industry representatives from chemical and petrochemical industries in Chennai, an IOC official said that the five-million-tonne-a-year natural gas terminal coming up to the north of Chennai is on schedule for completion in mid-2018. Natural gas will be available up to 50 km on either side of the trunk line.

HBL