Petronet's Kochi LNG Terminal Capacity Use Expected to reach 40% in 2018

Petronet’s Kochi LNG terminal capacity utilisation is expected to rise to 40% by calendar year 2018, CEO Prabhat Singh told CNBC TV18 news channel on October 10.

The terminal now has a low capacity utilisation of just 15-16% owing to a lack of pipeline infrastructure.

Indian state-run Gail is now making steady progress on the much delayed Kochi-Mangalore gas pipeline project; it being targeted for commissioning during the 12 months up to March 2019.

This comes as good news for Petronet LNG’s grossly underutilised Kochi LNG import terminal. The new pipeline will facilitate gas supplies to the fertilizer, refinery and petrochemical sectors of Mangalore and other areas. Once the pipeline becomes operational, use of the Kochi LNG terminal is also expected to rise substantially.

Singh told CNBC TV18 that the pipeline is expected to be complete ahead of schedule.

The Kochi terminal, south India's first LNG receiving, regasification and reloading facility, has a nameplate capacity of 5mn metric tons/yr and was commissioned in 2013. 

Shardul Sharma