ONGC to Revive Karnataka LNG Terminal Plans

India’s ONGC is expected to revive plans to set up a liquid gas (LNG) import terminal near its Mangalore refinery in southern Indian state of Karnataka. The $1 billion project was put in cold storage six years ago.

“In next 10 to 15 days, ONGC and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) will sign an MoU for putting up a LNG terminal at Mangalore,” Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily announced at the inauguration of state gas utility GAIL India Ltd’s Dabhol-Bangalore gas pipeline, Press Trust of India said.

The 5 million tonne capacity liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility will be set up through a joint venture of ONGC and BPCL and an international energy firm, PTI said.

ONGC has already initiated talks with Mitsui Group of Japan of setting up LNG terminal at Mangalore.

India has three operational LNG import facilities — a 10 million tonne unit at Dahej in Gujarat operated by Petronet LNG Ltd; a 3.6 million tonne terminal of Shell-Total at Hazira in Gujarat, and a just commissioned 5 million tonne facility at Dahbol in Maharashtra.