The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) signed an agreement with the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday for the development of a State-wide gas pipeline infrastructure in Kerala.
The project envisages establishment of gas pipelines for distribution of gas from the LNG terminal under construction in Kochi, for industrial and other uses including use as cooking gas and fuel for vehicles. A sub-sea pipeline to Kayamkulam Thermal power plant and another pipeline to Mangalore will be part of the network that will pass through all the districts in the State.
The network with 1100 km of pipelines would be ready for supply of gas by 2012. The infrastructure, along with the LNG Terminal in Kochi, will attract an investment of about Rs. 8,500 crore. Executive Director (Marketing) of GAIL J. Wason and Managing Director of KSIDC Alkesh Sharma inked the agreement in the presence of Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem, Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, Education Minister M.A. Baby and Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran at a function held in the Secretariat.
