An Indian Oil-Adani Gas Private Limited joint venture has won the bid for the supply of piped natural gas to the Ernakulam geographical area.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) had invited bids for establishing the city gas distribution network in October 2013. The date for submission of bids was extended several times. Piped natural gas (PNG), under the City Gas Distribution project, could be supplied to consumers through pipelines connected to the main lines, once the laying of pipes for domestic supply is completed.
Earlier, the bids were invited in 2010 for the CGD network for eight cities including Kochi, but were cancelled later on official grounds. Stakeholders were said to have sought revision of guidelines for the bidding process, which led to the cancellation. The guidelines were revised subsequently.
The biddersThere were six bidders in the latest round of bidding process. The bidders included Kerala Gail Gas Limited, a joint venture of KSIDC and Gail. The successful bidder will develop infrastructure for piped natural gas supply to the domestic sector including homes, hostels and hotels.
A top official of the Indian Oil Company confirmed that the bid has been awarded to the city gas venture of the company with Adani Group, but did not disclose the details.
Natural gas pipelinesThe PNGRB call for bids in the latest round pertained to 14 geographical areas including Ernakulam. GAIL India has already laid natural gas pipelines from the LNG terminal at Puthuvype to Udyogamandal and Ambalamugal within the city, for the industrial consumers of FACT and BPCL Kochi. The city gas distribution network could be connected to these pipelines for domestic supply.