Hazira LNG terminal opens to 3rd party imports.

FOR THE first time, Hazira liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal will be thrown open for first third party imports of LNG after five years of operation. LNG cargo belonging to Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation’s (GSPC) is expected to land at Hazira this week.

The terminal that started operating in 2005 is a 74:26 joint venture between Shell India and Total Gaz Electricité of France. The facility has a capacity of 3.6 million tonnes per annum.

“An LNG cargo of GSPC is expected to land at Hazira this week,” an oil industry official privy to development said. GSPC has signed contracts with Spain-based Re p sol to import nine loads of LNG cargo. The third consign ment of 55,000 tonnes from Trinidad & Tobago is expected to arrive at the Gujarat coast this week.

The first two shipments landed at Dahej LNG terminal that has capacity to handle 10 MMTPA. Petronet LNG (PLL) operates the terminal.

“There are some capa city constraints at Dahej te r minal, so GSPC is divert ing its cargo to Hazira,” the official said. Hazira term inal has 17 km send-out pi pe line up to Mora, connected to Gujarat State Petronet (GSPL) statewide grid.

“We are open to third party operations in Hazira terminal as we have the capacity,” Vikram Singh Mehta, chairman of Shell India told Financial Chronicle.

In the next five to 10 years, India will have to double its LNG terminal capacities, said Dilip Khanna, partner (oil and gas prac t ices) at Ernst & Young, Ind ia. At present, India has two operational LNG terminals at Dahej and Hazira.

PLL has commenced construction of another LNG terminal at Kochi with a capacity of 2.5 MMTPA.

Ratnagiri Gas and Power is also setting up five MMTPA LNG terminal at Dabhol.

Source : mydigitalfc.com