State-run refiners are set to fully commission the world’s longest liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) pipeline by June, a move expected to cut transportation costs and reduce road accidents.

The USD 1.3 billion, 2,800-km pipeline will replace hundreds of trucks currently used to move fuel from refineries to bottling plants, lowering accident risks. Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum Corp., and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. have jointly established IHB to oversee the project, which runs from Kandla on the west coast to Gorakhpur in northern India.

The first phase is set to begin operations in March, with full commissioning by mid-2025. “The network will be capable of annually transporting about 8.3 million tons of LPG, or about 25% of India’s total demand,” said Chairman of the joint venture, N Senthil Kumar. 

The country’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has urged refiners to expand pipeline infrastructure to manage growing fuel volumes and prevent road disasters. Government subsidies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration have helped accelerate adoption, encouraging low-income households to shift from polluting biomass to cleaner fuel.