After being the first to house LPG terminals, Gujarat is now set to sign a Memorandum of understanding (MOU) for building country’s first CNG terminal as well, reports The Indian Express. This MOU is one amongst the 100 MOUs which are slated to be signed by the port department in the upcoming Vibrant summit 2019 to be held in Gujarat.
Mukesh Kumar, Vice-Chairman and MD of Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) said on Monday that Foresight Group Services Limited FZCO, which is based out of London, has been shortlisted to set up the terminal. They have been asked to conduct a feasibility test. The company would be exploring the coastal areas in and around Bhavnagar district before taking up the contract.
“There is a cross-country pipeline for CNG near Bhavnagar. They also have a long-term agreement with Iran for their international operations for CNG,” Kumar said, adding that the cross-country CNG pipeline is about 12 km from the Bhavnagar port.
The state currently houses three LPG (Liquified Natural Gas) terminals at Dahej, Hazira and Mundra, while another one at Chhara port, is under construction.
Leading India in its effort to become a natural gas based economy, Gujarat was on its way to becoming the first state to get 100 per cent pipe gas coverage as well.
Apart from this, Kumar listed a few other investments which were slated to happen during the summit.
The development of an offshore, captive crude import facility of the Mandvi coast in Kutch district by HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd, the development of a cruise terminal for operating cruise liners off the coast of Diu, Dwarka, Veraval and Porbandar and an agreement for a command and control system at Kandla for oil spill response on the coast of Gujarat by Oil Spill Combat Team LLP were amongst the many things which were planned to be discussed during the summit.