Pune: GAIL (India) Limited is investing ₹6 billion (approximately $63.1 million) to develop a heating unit at its Ratnagiri liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Maharashtra. The facility will help gasify super-chilled LNG and enable the terminal to operate at its full capacity.
R. K. Singhal, GAIL’s Business Development Director, shared the details with reporters on Wednesday at an industry event. He said the heating unit is expected to be completed by June 2027. The investment is aimed at addressing the terminal’s current operational limitations and enabling it to handle its designed capacity of 5 million tonnes per annum.
GAIL’s Ratnagiri LNG Terminal Operating at 50% Capacity
According to Singhal, the Ratnagiri LNG terminal is currently operating at approximately 50% of its capacity because the required heating unit is not ready.
LNG is transported and stored in a liquefied state at extremely low temperatures. Before it can be supplied through gas pipelines for consumption, it must be warmed and converted back into its gaseous form through a process known as regasification.The planned heating unit will provide the heat required for this process, helping GAIL increase the terminal’s utilisation and improve its operational capability.
Once completed, the facility is expected to enable the terminal to operate at its full designed capacity of 5 MTPA.
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Heating Unit Project Targeted for Completion by June 2027
GAIL has set June 2027 as the target for completing the new heating unit at the Ratnagiri LNG terminal.
The project involves an investment of ₹6 billion, equivalent to approximately $63.1 million. The facility is expected to address the heating requirement that has limited the terminal’s operations.
The development forms part of GAIL’s efforts to ensure the availability of the infrastructure required for LNG regasification and to make better use of its existing terminal capacity.
GAIL Plans Captive Power Plant to Generate Heat
Singhal explained that the Ratnagiri terminal previously relied on waste heat from a power plant operated by another entity to gasify LNG. However, that power plant is currently not functional, affecting the terminal’s ability to operate at full capacity.
To address the issue, GAIL is also developing a small captive power plant to generate heat for the LNG facility.
The captive power plant is intended to provide a dedicated source of heat for the terminal’s gasification requirements. This arrangement will help address the dependence on waste heat from the external power plant.
Project to Support Full Utilisation of LNG Terminal Capacity
The heating unit and captive power plant are expected to help resolve the terminal’s current operational constraints. With the heating facility targeted for completion by June 2027, GAIL aims to raise utilisation from the current level of around 50% to the terminal’s full designed capacity of 5 MTPA.
The project is significant for improving the use of existing LNG infrastructure and supporting the availability of regasification capacity. The terminal’s actual operating level will depend on the completion and commissioning of the required facilities.
About GAIL (India) Limited
GAIL (India) Limited is a Maharatna public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India. It is one of India’s leading natural gas companies, with operations spanning natural gas transmission and marketing, gas processing, petrochemicals, liquefied natural gas and related energy infrastructure. GAIL plays an important role in developing India’s natural gas value chain and supporting the country’s energy requirements.
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