GAIL is planning to lay a regassified LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) pipeline from the upcoming Petronet LNG project in Kerala.

The proposed LNG pipeline will be laid over a distance of 32.4 km from Puthuvype to the Kochi refinery premises in Ambalamugal and will have capacity of 20 mmscmd. The pipeline will be a spur (or feeder) line from GAIL's main gas pipeline and will be laid at an estimated investment of Rs 320 crore. It will serve as a fuel link for Kochi refinery, FACT and Hindustan Organic Chemicals (HOCL). GAIL plans to implement the project in two parts, part one will have a pipeline of 30-inch dia from Puthuvype to FACT's premises in Udyogamandal near Kochi, and a second one 18-inch section of pipeline from Udyogamandal to Kochi Refinery's Ambalamugal premises. The first part which will terminate at FACT will be extended to HOCL.

Currently, GAIL is in the process of laying gas trunk lines on the Kochi-Bangalore and Kochi-Mangalore routes while simultaneously working on setting up its five million tpa LNG terminal at Puthuvype in Kochi by Petronet LNG at an estimated cost of Rs 4,000 crore. The proposed Kochi-Koottanad-Bangalore-Mangalore pipeline will pass through Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Along with this, a 120-km pipeline is planned under the sea from Puthuvype to Kayamkulam to provide gas to an NTPC unit there. Also, plans are in the offing to transport the gas to Thiruvananthapuram.

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