The repair works undertaken on the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), which was blown in Nagaram village in East Godavari district on June 27 last year, claiming 19 lives, is on a brisk pace and in all likelihood, the gas major will resume supply to its all stakeholders by June, the authorities have said.
Of the 870-km pipeline in the entire KG Basin, line spanning over 600 km has been put to service, resuming the gas supply to small and medium stakeholders, except the Lanco power generation unit in Kondapalli. According to M.V. Iyer, General Manager, GAIL, Rajahmundry Region, except for Tatipaka and Yendada areas, the pipeline on the entire stretch has either been repaired or restored.
The GAIL, which hitherto supplied 5.2 million standard cubic metres a day (mscmpd) to its customers, was able to give 4.3 to 4.4 mscmpd. “At present, we are supplying gas to all small units including some power plants. NFCL at Kakinada needs higher pressure which we have started supplying too,” he said. Asked about the replacement of pipeline with leakages which was found by expert committees, Mr. Iyer said that another 100-km pipeline including the ones at Nagaram, Tatipaka, Yendada needed total replacement, adding that Mumbai-based Kalpataru power transmission had bagged the works of laying new pipelines. Welding works in 30 km has been completed and rest of the 70 km is in progress.
“In all probability, we will supply gas with regional pressure to Lanco and all other stakeholders of GAIL by June,” Mr. Iyer said.
Of the 870-km pipeline in KG Basin, line spanning over 600 km has been put to service
‘Another 100-km pipeline including the ones at Nagaram, Tatipaka, Yendada need total replacement’
