The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has granted authorisation to (IOCL) to lay, build, operate and expand the Kochi–Kanyakumari–Thoothukudi Natural Gas Pipeline (KTPL), in a key step towards strengthening gas infrastructure in southern India.
The proposed pipeline will originate from the Kochi LNG Terminal in Kerala and extend up to Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, covering a length of approximately 425 km with a system capacity of 6.84 MMSCMD, including common carrier capacity, a PNGRB note said.
The pipeline will facilitate efficient evacuation and transportation of regasified LNG from the Kochi LNG Terminal to key demand centres across Kerala and the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. It is expected to play an important role in enabling the expansion of City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks and supplying natural gas to industrial consumers, power plants and other downstream sectors in the region.
PNGRB says that the authorisation follows a competitive bidding process undertaken by the body. “After evaluation of the technical and financial bids received, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd emerged the successful bidder for the project,” it said.
The development of this pipeline is expected to provide several strategic and economic benefits, including the enhancement of natural gas availability in Kerala and southern Tamil Nadu, thereby improving energy accessibility in the region. It will also help in strengthening the regional gas infrastructure and improved integration with the national gas grid.
Among its key benefits will be the facilitation of CGD expansion, enabling increased supply of PNG and CNG to households, commercial establishments and the transport sector. It also promotes cleaner energy usage.