NGT reconfirms order allowing IndianOil to go ahead with LPG unit near Kochi.

In a major boost to the stalled prime infrastructure project of Indian Oil in Kerala, the National Green Tribunal has reconfirmed its order dated August 2, 2016 permitting IndianOil to ''go ahead' with its LPG Import terminal project at Puthuvypeen.

The project work has been stalled from February 15 onwards due to protests, alleging that IndianOil is violating NGT order.

P.S.Mony, General Manager and State Head, Kerala said in a statement that “The NGT passed an order confirming that there is no prohibition to proceed with the work even as per the order dt August 2, 2016, and hence no obstruction should be caused to the project work”.

In case of any obstruction, IndianOil is entitled to take appropriate action in accordance with law.

IOCL is constructing an LPG Terminal of six lakh tonne capacity per year at Kochi in Puthuvypeen SEZ of the Cochin Port Trust. The project also includes laying of a pipeline from the jetty to Kochi Refinery via IOCL’s LPG plant at Kochi. This pipeline would be hooked to the Kochi-Salem pipeline which is also under construction.

The entire project which also includes a LPG Terminal being constructed at Palakkad is expected to cost around Rs. 2200 crore. The pipeline is being constructed jointly by IOCL and BPCL.

According to officials, the LPG import terminal is very important since indigenous availability of LPG in the country is only half of the demand. The LPG customer base is presently 15 crore which is expected to double by 2020. The LPG demand in the country is presently growing at 11 per cent. LPG imports ae also expected to rise significantly by 2020 from the current levels of 50 per cent and IOCL is augmenting the LPG infrastructure across the country including setting up of 23 new bottling plants, the Mundra-Gorakhpur LPG pipelines besides the import terminal at Kochi and the Kochi-Salem Pipeline with BPCL.

The LPG import terminal at Kochi has been targeted to be completed by February 2018.

HBL