Madkai, Usgao and Kundaim units in Goa to get piped natural gas
In keeping with the Centre’s aim to turn India into a gas-based economy, industrial units in Madkai, Usgao and Kundaim will soon gain access to piped natural gas (PNG), a cheaper and cleaner fuel. Goa Natural Gas (GNG), which has been authorised by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) to build the city gas distribution network in North Goa, has begun the process to set up the piped gas distribution network in the three industrial estates. “We are in the process of inking agreements with Nestle, Finolex, MRF, Deccan Chemicals and Godrej to supply piped natural gas as fuel for their plants,” GNG chief executive officer, K K Sachdeva, said. GNG is a joint venture of GAIL Gas Limited (GGL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), both public sector undertakings. It continues to focus on domestic consumers in Ponda and Panaji and hopes that the commercial supply of PNG to industries can offset the costs incurred to lay the city domestic gas network. Sachdeva told STOI that the company’s first compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station at Old Goa would be commissioned once the chief controller of explosives inspected the facility and issued the necessary approvals. “Once cleared, we will be prepared for commercial registration at the West Coast fuel station in Old Goa,” he said, adding that three more CNG-filling stations were in the pipeline in the state. To encourage vehicle owners and taxi operators to switch to CNG, Goa Natural Gas is offering Rs 5,000 of the fuel free to the first 100 individuals who purchase CNG conversion kits for their vehicles. “The initial one-time investment is around Rs 35,000,” Sachdeva said. “CNG itself will be sold at Rs 55 per kg, which is already cheaper than petrol by Rs 28. It is also greener and the mileage of the vehicle increases,” he said.
