Indian Oil Corporation has begun pre-project activities on its proposed LPG pipeline from Panipat (Haryana) to Jalandhar in Punjab.  To be implemented at a cost of Rs.185 crore, the pipeline will evacuate LPG from IOC's Panipat refinery and transport it to its LPG bottling plants at Nabha and Jalandhar.

The project involves developing a pumping station at Kohand in Panipat, laying of a 275-km pipeline to Jalandhar and installation of a delivery station at Nabha and a terminal station at Jalandhar.

The pipeline aims to drastically reduce the cost of LPG transportation when compared to road transport. IOC currently has LPG bottling plants at Kamal and Gurgaon in Haryana, Jalandhar and Nabha (Punjab), Una and Baddi (Himachal Pradesh) and Jammu and Leh (J&K). The LPG requirement of these plants is currently met through the Panipat refinery as well as the Loni Tap-Off Point in Uttar Pradesh that receives its feed from Gail (India)'s Jamnagar-Loni pipeline.

The proposed LPG pipeline could also result in new LPG bottling plants being set up that would receive LPG from Nabha or Jalandhar.

(Note: This news item incorporates updates received on 14 June 2006)