Liquefied Natural Gas – A Clean Industrial Fuel

With a huge gap between the demand and indigenous availability of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in the country, Baalu initiated for the first time in India a policy to import LNG. This step demonstrated his vision for strengthening industrial infrastructure not only at the country level but in his own home state Tamil Nadu also which is most developed state in Southern India. The first ever International Conference on LNG organized at Chennai in xxxx and inaugurated by the then Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi with Thiru Murasoli Maran, then Union Industry Minister as Key-Note speaker set the tone for the Central Government policy for import of LNG to India. The proposal envisaged setting up of LNG terminals at four identified locations, viz., Dahej in Gujarat, Mangalore in Karnataka, Cochin in Kerala and Ennore in Tamil Nadu. Inclusion of three of the four locations in southern India was a conscious decision of the Central Government based on the industrial development potential of this region. A new joint venture company viz., Petronet LNG Ltd. was set up by the Petroleum Ministry to establish import facilities at the respective ports at these locations along with the associated re-gasification facilities.

LNG being an environment-friendly fuel, Baalu was extremely keen that apart from the industrial requirements, the transport vehicles in Chennai city should get the benefit of using Natural Gas instead of diesel or petrol to minimize vehicular pollution in the city. Later, use of natural gas in the compressed form (CNG) for all vehicles in Delhi was introduced through an Order of the Supreme Court.