Gujarat State Petronet Ltd. (GSPL) has commissioned a new natural gas pipeline connecting a newly established 5 million tonnes per annum liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in Chhara, Gir-Somnath district, to the gas grid, the company announced Monday.

The pipeline, capable of transporting 18 million standard cubic meters of gas per day, was developed by GSPL at a cost of 6.5 billion rupees ($78 million). GSPL stated in a press release that the pipeline was commissioned on March 20.

The LNG import facility at Chhara was built by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) to regasify the imported LNG, converting it back to its gaseous state for distribution to customers, including power plants and fertilizer units, via pipelines.

According to the company’s statement, the project was awarded to Ace Pipeline Contracts, a Mumbai-based construction company, in September 2023. 

The contract included the work for engineering, procurement, and construction of a 36-inch diameter pipeline from the HPCL LNG terminal at Chhara in Gir-Somnath district to Lothpur in Amreli district of Gujarat. 

The contract also covered the dispatch terminal at Chhara LNG terminal, valve stations, and the receiving terminal at Lothpur. 

"To cut down on the construction schedule, construction techniques such as automatic welding for welding of the 36-inch diameter pipeline were deployed on the project," the company stated.

The project aims to increase the availability of natural gas in India, supporting the government's goal to raise the share of natural gas in the country's energy mix to 15% by 2030, up from the current 6.2%.