GAIL reportedly completes India’s Kochi-Mangalore natural gas pipeline

The Gas Authority of India (GAIL) has reportedly completed the 444km-long Kochi-Mangalore natural gas pipeline project in Southern India.

The natural gas pipeline is now ready to be commissioned with the completion of the final 540m stretch laid across the Chandragiri river in northern Kerala, India’s PTI reported citing GAIL executive director and southern region head P Murugesan.

Murugesan was quoted by the news agency as stating: “We have completed the most difficult stretch across the Chandragiri river in Kasargod district in northern Kerala, on Saturday.

“Now the testing is on and this will be completed in the next two days. Within this week itself, gas will reach Mangalore through the 444km pipeline.”

He added that a ‘formal commissioning’ will take place later, based on the availability of the minister.

The pipeline which passes through Kochi in Kerala to Mangalore in Karnataka has been laid with an investment of more than INR57.5bn ($770m).

The first phase of the natural gas pipeline was commissioned in 2013 in the Kochi metropolitan area. Adani Gas provided industrial and domestic supplies from early 2016.

Currently, the pipeline supplies nearly 3.8 million cubic metres per day (mcm/d) of gas to Kochi.

In Mangalore, the natural gas pipeline is capable of supplying 2.5mcm/d.

With the full commissioning of the pipeline, Kerala’s gas demand is expected to reach 80mcm-90mcm per annum from the current volumes of 60mcm.

In February 2016, GAIL secured clearance from the Supreme Court for the Kochi-Mangalore natural gas pipeline project.