Bengaluru: Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar on Sunday said laying of a natural gas pipeline from Kochi in Kerala to Mangaluru in coastal Karnataka will be completed by next year.
“I have discussed with Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on the progress of laying natural gas pipeline. He assured me to complete the work by next year,’’ Ananth Kumar told reporters after inaugurating City Gas Distribution (CGD) project in Bengaluru south suburb.
GAIL (India) is entrusted to lay 358.7-km length natural gas pipeline. The project faced problems with Kerala government delaying to provide right of way for laying the pipeline from Kochi to Mangaluru. “Kerala government has agreed to provide right of way for laying the pipeline from Kochi to Mangaluru,’’ he said.
If the natural gas pipeline between Kochi and Mangaluru becomes a reality, urea plant of Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilisers Limited will be run on natural gas. “The Rs. 3,000-crore project was pending since 2008. If it completed, coastal areas will be benefited. Urea plant at Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilisers, which is being run on age-old and most crude fuel naphtha, can be run on natural gas,’’ he said.
