Thursday, July 6, 2023

TN to dispense LNG in six filling stations; IOC invests in Rs 54,000 crore worth projects across state; Hydrogen fuel station planned on pilot basis


CHENNAI:
Indian Oil Corporation is helping Tamil Nadu transition to clean fuels by setting up six liquefied natural gas (LNG) dispensing stations in the state. This would mean that the state would now have additional green fuel in the form of LNG for commercial vehicles.

Addressing the first press meet of Indian Oil Corporation after Covid,  V C Asokan, Executive Director and State Head for Indian Oil (Tamil Nadu & Puducherry) on Thursday said that the six LNG stations  in Ponneri, Othakadai, Namakkal, Coimbatore, Koneripalli and Sriperumbudur would be providing LNG an alternative to diesel which will be useful for long haul vehicles.

Asokan said that LNG filled trucks could travel upto 600km to 800km. He said the dispensing station in Sriperumbudur is functioning on a pilot basis. The six stations are likely to be inaugurated in the next few months. Talks are on with Ashok Leyland, Dalmia Cement and other entities to use the fuel.

Asokan also said that Indian Oil Corporation has invested Rs 54,000 crore in projects across Tamil Nadu, one of the largest in the country. These projects are likely to be completed in the next four to five years. These include a nine million metric tonne per annum grassroots refinery, worth Rs 35,580 crore in Nagapattinam, and a gas pipeline from Ennore to Thoothukudi carrying Liquefied Natural Gas, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Piped Natural Gas (PNG) among others. The pipeline, considered to be the lifeline of the state, will transport five million metric tonnes per annum gas from LNG storage and regasification terminal at Ennore and supply it to industries across the state.

The other projects include world's second largest integrated lube complex at Ammulvoyyal village in Chennai, at a cost of Rs 1,398 crore and a new oil terminal at Vallur at a cost of Rs 724 crore which is likely to be completed in December next year.

He also said that the Indian Oil corporation's venture into green hydrogen is at a conceptual stage. "Talks are going on with the state," he said. Investment in Hydrogen requires over Rs 40,000 to 50,000 crore of investment. Asokan said Hydrogen as fuel is costlier and research is going on to make it cheap. It is learnt that Hydrogen fuel stations will be rolled out in Tamil Nadu and Kerala and discussions are with the state government authorities. A fuel station is already being set up in Gujarat successfully.

Asokan also said that Indian oil has achieved 10% ethanol blending with petrol in Tamil nadu and Puducherry last year and is working towards 20% ethanol blended petrol by 2025 in line with government mandate.

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