On January 5, 2020, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the 450 Km Long Kochi-Mangaluru Natural Gas Pipeline. The pipeline has been constructed by GAIL (India) Ltd at a cost of INR 3, 000 crores. The pipeline will carry natural gas from Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) regasification terminal at Kochi, Kerala to Mangaluru, Karnataka.
i.The PM cited the inauguration of the pipeline as a step towards Government’s ‘One Nation One Gas Grid’.
ii.Arif Mohammad Khan, Governor of Kerala, Vajubhai Vala, Governor of Karnataka, B. S. Yediyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala & Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas were present during the occasion.
Gist of the project:
i.The pipeline has the capacity to transport 12 MMSCMD (Million Metric Standard Cubic Metres of Natural gas per Day).
ii.The new pipeline will create around 21 Lakh new Piped Gas Connections and passes through Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur & Kasargod districts.
iii.Besides offering clean industrial fuel, the pipeline will provide an opportunity for multiple gas-based industries to emerge, creating direct & indirect job opportunities.
iv.The construction of the pipeline has created around 12 Lakh man-days of employment.
v.It will also provide continuous supply of environment-friendly Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to households, commercial units & Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for transport sector across Kerala.
The project was launched in 2009 and was originally expected to be completed in 2014.
Highlights from PM’s address:
i.The pipeline is set to become the base of the Gas Distribution System in many cities and will form the base of CNG based transport systems in these cities.
ii.The natural gas pipeline will also play a major role in reducing the pollution in Kerala & Karnataka.
iii.From 2014, work is under progress for the construction of around 16, 000 Kms of gas pipeline which will be completed in the next 5-6 years.
iv.Due to an increase in piped gas connections, many States & Union Territories like Haryana, Punjab & Andhra Pradesh have declared themselves kerosene free.
Targets set by Government:
i.Government plans to increase the share of natural gas in the energy sector from the present 6% to 15% by 2030.
ii.It has also set a target of ethanol blending in petrol upto 20% in 10 years.
Blue Economy:
PM also highlighted plans for development of ‘Blue Economy’ in Coastal States like Karnataka, Kerala & other South Indian States.
i.Under the Blue Economy, ports and coastal roads are being connected to turn the coastal region into a role model of ease of living & ease of doing business.
ii.He highlighted schemes taken by Government to help fishermen like providing affordable loans, Kisan Credit Cards to beneficiaries of Aquaculture.
iii.He also highlighted Matsya Sampada Yojana which will benefit lakhs of fishermen in Kerala & Karnataka.
iv.The construction of the World’s largest Hybrid Energy Plant (wind & solar) is also under progress in the Kutch Region of Gujarat.
Recent Related News:
i.On October 3, 2020 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Atal Tunnel’ – World’s Longest Highway Tunnel in Manali, Himachal Pradesh.
About GAIL (India) Ltd:
Formerly known as Gas Authority of India Ltd.
Chairman & Managing Director – Manoj Jain
Headquarters – New Delhi
