On completion of the city gas distribution (CGD) project in seven northern districts in Kerala which will be awarded following the ongoing round of bidding, nearly 63% of Kerala population will come under CGD coverage, according to D.K. Sarraf, chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board.
Right now, only Ernakulam has the project being executed by Indian Oil-Adani Gas Pvt Ltd and it covers about 9.83% of the State’s population.
Mr. Sarraf told the media on Monday that the CGD in Ernakulam had made good progress.
“Besides the domestic connections, they set up four CNG stations while 12 more would be opened this financial year,” he said.
Earlier, Ajay Pillai, asset head of the Indian Oil-Adani Gas Pvt Ltd, said following authorisation received on October 15, 2015, the company had provided 7,390 piped natural gas connections, while its commitment was to give a total of 40,701 connections. He said there was tremendous potential still remaining untapped given the population of Ernakulam (nearly 34 lakh), with about eight lakh households. Mr. Pillai lauded the support extended by the State administration in executing the project.
The tendering process for the present lot of 86 geographical areas, of which Kerala has four across the seven northern districts, is set to close on July 10 and the aim is to award contracts by October-end.
Pankaj Wadhwa, senior vice president of Petronet LNG, said the Kochi terminal had so far received 43 cargoes including reload, cool down and bunkering services. It had also begun truck-loading facility to HLL, Kochi, and so far supplied about 1,050 truckloads.
Kochi Metro Rail Ltd CMD and executive director of Kochi Smart City A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish delivered a special address and stressed the need for cleaner, greener energy.