GAIL Emerges As Successful Bidder For 175 Km Natural Gas Pipeline To J&K

GAIL (India) Ltd, the country's largest gas distributor, has emerged as the successful bidder for the Gurdaspur-Jammu Natural Gas Pipeline.

The 175-km natural gas pipeline from Gurdaspur in Punjab to Jammu City via Pathankot, Kathua and Samba will cater to the natural gas requirement in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier in January 2023, the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) had invited bids for Gurdaspur-Jammu Natural Gas Pipeline under Regulation 5 of PNGRB (Authorising Entities to Lay, Build, Operate or Expand Natural Gas Pipelines) Regulations, 2008.

Two bidders namely, GAIL (India) Ltd and Indian Oil Corporation had submitted their bids for the Jammu pipeline. Both bidders were found to be technically qualified and financial bids were opened on 21 June.

“As per preliminary evaluation of the financial bids, it appears that GAIL (India) Limited has the highest composite score and is the successful bidder for the Gurdaspur-Jammu Natural Gas Pipeline,” the regulator PNGRB said in a statement.

Originally, the PNGRB had granted authorisation for laying natural gas pipeline along the route of Bhatinda (Punjab)-Kathua (J&K)-Jammu (J&K)-Srinagar.

The Bhatinda-Jammu-Srinagar natural gas pipeline was awarded to Gujarat State Petronet Limited (GSPL)-led consortium.

However, the consortium failed to lay the pipeline within the stipulated time, following which PNGRB cancelled the authorisation and suo-motu invited bids for the Gurdaspur-Jammu pipeline.

The initial capacity in the Gurdaspur-Jammu natural gas pipeline shall be  at least equal to 2 million standard cubic metre per day. However, no timeline has been specified for the completion of the pipeline.