Mangalore, March 12, 2013;
Petroleum Ministry has said that an association led by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) has proposed setting up a three million tonnes per annum liquefied natural gas (LNG) re-gasification terminal in Mangalore by 2018.
The New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) has assured its full cooperation and it already given a no objection certificate to this effect so as to conduct a feasibility study.
In a statement issued by the petroleum ministry has said that consortium comprises public sector giant Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), Japanese conglomerate Mitsui and NMPT. The partners are expected to sign the agreement in the presence of Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M Veerappa Moily.
This re-gasification terminal is expected to give a fillip to the economic activity in and around Mangalore. Demand for LNG in this region is expected to be around 2.5 million tonnes per annum. Mangalore’s strategic location makes it suitable to meet the future requirements of demand and supply due to the presence of Mangalore Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), ONGC and the special economic zone (SEZ). Moreover, Mangalore also doubles up a transport hub with the LPG import facility through Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) for supplying cooking gas across the southern states.
