Shell may open CNG, LPG outlets for vehicles in Gujarat

Ahmedabad: Shell India Marketing Private Ltd (SIMPL), a 100 per cent subsidiary of India Pvt Ltd, is likely to introduce CNG and LPG fuel stations for vehicles in Gujarat, its Managing Director and Retail General Manager, Mr Surinderdeep Singh, said here.

However, he declined to elaborate. Shell already has a gas terminal of its own at Hazira in Gujarat from where it supplies natural gas to customers, including industries.

After announcing the launch of its retail initiative with three outlets in Gujarat — at Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Rajkot — he told reporters here that Shell has also introduced its fourth product in India, Shell Diesel Extra, at these new outlets.

In July 2004, Shell India acquired a marketing licence from the Government to set up a network of up to 2,000 fuel retail stations in the country.

It is the only international company to be granted this approval.

With these launches, the total number of outlets in India has gone up to 42, mainly in the southern States, he said.

Rising land cost

He attributed the slow progress in opening these stations to the rising cost of land across the country. It is in the process of acquiring land at more than a dozen places in Gujarat. Mr Singh supported the demand of other private players, like Reliance, that the Government should provide a “level-playing field” to the non-government oil companies with regard to subsidies for price parity.