GAIL Awaits PESO Clearance to Operationalize Nagpur-Jabalpur Gas Pipeline
The Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) anticipates receiving critical permissions from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) this week to commence operations for the 317-kilometer gas pipeline connecting Nagpur to Jabalpur. According to sources, PESO officials are expected to inspect the site within the next day or two, after which the pipeline segment will be ready for gassing up, marking a significant step in India's energy infrastructure development.
Expansive Pipeline Network Enhancing National Gas Supply
This pipeline is part of GAIL's broader strategy to strengthen India's gas distribution network. The company has already completed and gassed up a 693-kilometer pipeline from Mumbai to Nagpur, which runs parallel to the Samruddhi Expressway. From Nagpur, the network extends not only to Jabalpur but also eastward to Jharsuguda in Odisha, covering a distance of 692 kilometers. This dual-directional expansion will facilitate gas supply from both the western and eastern coasts, improving energy accessibility across regions.
Revised Timelines and Testing Procedures
Initially projected for completion by the end of March, GAIL has revised the deadline for the Nagpur-Jharsuguda leg to June 31, as officially communicated to stock exchanges this week. The pipeline to Jharsuguda has been laid, with ongoing testing in a 203-kilometer segment from Nagpur to Gondia. Testing involves a rigorous process, including filling the pipeline with water under high pressure and conducting meticulous checks using methods like ultrasound to ensure no contaminants remain. This phase is crucial and requires PESO approval before proceeding.
Operational Readiness and Gas Sourcing
Currently, the eastward pipeline is already gassed up for over 480 kilometers from Jharsuguda in Odisha to Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh. Once the Nagpur-Gondia section is gassed, the entire east-west network will become fully operational, according to sources. GAIL is sourcing gas for its eastward pipeline from the Dhamra port in Odisha, leveraging coastal resources to support the national gas grid. This development underscores GAIL's commitment to enhancing India's energy security and infrastructure efficiency.
