Indian Oil, TNEB Mull Direct Gas Pipeline Link To Five Tamil Nadu Power Plants

Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) officials met to explore direct pipeline links for supplying gas to five gas-based power plants across the state, The New Indian Express reported.

The discussion, attended by TNEB chairman and managing director J Radhakrishnan, IOC general manager Suman Kumar Mishra, and other officials, focused on supplying Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) via direct pipelines to the Valuthur (187 MW), Basin Bridge (120 MW), Thirumakottai (108 MW), Kuttalam (101 MW), and Pillai Perumalnallur (330 MW) plants.

Radhakrishnan told that in phase one, gas would be supplied to the Valuthur plant in Ramanathapuram via the existing IOC pipeline between Ennore and Thoothukudi ports.

He also urged IOC to submit a report on extending the pipeline to the Basin Bridge plant in Chennai to secure uninterrupted power supply during peak demand. Another meeting on the matter is planned.

Mishra noted that IOC operates a 440-km pipeline from Ennore to Thoothukudi and has already submitted a project plan for the Valuthur plant.

He added that IOC would now prepare a similar report for the Basin Bridge facility at TNEB’s request.

Mishra also said RLNG is currently priced at \$12 per Metric Million British Thermal Unit (MMBTU), with rates trending downward and expected to fall further.

At present, Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) supplies natural gas to these plants at $6.5 per MMBTU.

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