IOC to commission LPG unit near Kochi by 2017
New Delhi   03-Feb-2014

The integrated LPG import facility of the public sector Indian Oil Corporation, on land allotted by the Kochi port, is scheduled to be commissioned by 2017.

The Rs. 600-crore import facility at nearby Puthuvypeen will have a capacity to handle 0.6 million tonnes a year to meet the requirements of Kerala and neighbouring States, A. Pandian, General Manager, Indian Oil Corp, (Kerala and Lakshadweep), said.

LPG pipeline
Besides, the company has also received approval for a 400-km cross-country LPG pipeline from the import terminal to BPCL Kochi Refinery and to Salem via Coimbatore.

This would be a joint venture initiative with BPCL and the work on the Rs. 500-crore project is expected to commence by this year-end, he said. With the completion of these projects, he expressed the hope that there would be significant reduction in the road movement of bulk LPG cylinders in Kerala.

The nearest LPG import facility is located at Mangalore and hence LPG is sourced from there to meet the requirement of consumers in Kerala.

Capacity expansion
IOC is also enhancing the capacity in bottling plants, augmenting storage facilities with an investment of Rs.100 crore.

The company had also approached the Kerala Government to allot suitable land for the construction of the depot.