The Odisha Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) will sign an MOU with the Indian Oil Corporation limited (IOCl) on July 27 to implement an ambitious project to distribute liquefied natural gas (lNG) in both urban and industrial areas of the State through pipelines to avoid the hassles of booking and delayed delivery of the cooking gas.
The Industries Department has asked the IDCO to sign the pact to create network for pipeline connectivity to supply lNG for household and industrial, commercial and vehicle purposes.
The IOCl would explore the possibility of supplying lNG through pipelines in Bhubaneswar and other cities. For the purpose, the IOCl would want the Government to provide land and would involve the IDCO to do the project in joint venture.
“The draft MoU envisages exploring of possible cooperation by both IDCO and IOCl in the areas of total energy solution as far as the natural gas is concerned,” said Industries Minister Niranjan Pujari. The joint venture of cooking gas supply will be started first in Bhubaneswar and later in two other cities, he said.
To cater to the needs of lNG in the Eastern States, the IOCl has already signed an MoU with the Dhamra Port Company for setting up a 5-MMTPA capacity lNG terminal in Bhadrak district. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has identified nine locations in Odisha — Bhubaneswar, Jajpaur, Rourkela, Anandpur, Kamakhyanagar, Baripada and Baleswar for development of city gas distribution networks.