GMR to invest 471 cr for LNG terminal at Kakinada

The Dollar Business Bureau

GMR, a major player in the infrastructure sector on Sunday, announced its plans to build a liquefied natural gas terminal at Kakinada sea port in Andhra Pradesh. The project could be worth Rs.471 crore.

The minutes of the meeting released by the EAC (Expert Appraisal Committee acting under the Ministry of Environment and Forests) says, “the project envisages a start-up capacity of 1.75 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) which comprises of captive use by GMR Energy Limited to the tune of 0.85 MTPA, with the balance for domestic piped and non-piped users within a radius of 450km.”

According to the release, the facility has:  all the necessary services or equipments for ship mooring and berthing, liquefied natural gas unloading arms with all their safety measures, necessary provisions for storage and transportation, onshore insulated cryogenic pipeline, LNG regasification facility and also a pipeline to connect to the existing gas grid for distribution.

While promoting its project, GMR said, “a regasification plant will also be installed at berth no.7 with the cost of the project being, Rs 471 crore. Besides the project would have a power requirement of 8MW and the famous Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is located 1.5 km south of the project.” The EAC insisted that the company carry out a public hearing while laying down other conditions.

The EAC delayed its decision to get an Environmental  and CRZ clearance in case of proposed planned greenfield facility for importing 5MMTPA LNG Floating Storage Unit (FSU) and handling facility within Nellore, Krishnapatnam Port Ltd, and Andhra Pradesh by LNG Bharat Pvt Ltd,  but mentioned that the project proponent may submit all the necessary documents to the Andhra Pradesh Coastal Zone Management Authority as required by them.