Spic to import regasified LNG for Tuticorin plant.

Fertiliser major Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation Ltd. (SPIC) is planning to import regasified LNG or use gas bullets instead of naphtha as feedstock to meet the government’s deadline of September-end. The government had earlier set July 31 as deadline for naphtha-based plants to switch to gas.

At the annual general meeting recently, Ashwin C Muthiah, chairman, Spic, said the Centre had extended the timeline for the payment of subsidies to naphtha-based plants till the end of September. The operations of Spic's urea plant beyond this month would entirely depend on the government's decision to continue subsidies to these units.

Stating the petroleum and natural gas ministry had indicated an availability of 0.99 mmscmd of gas from the Ramnad basin to Spic, he said this would help them significantly once connectivity was established between the two. 'We are expecting, based on assurances given by various agencies, that the Ramnad-Tuticorin section of the pipeline will be completed by 2015,' he added.


BS