GAIL, ONGC and Shell Energy India sign tripartite MoU to explore opportunities for import of ethane and other hydrocarbons

GAIL (India) Limited, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Shell Energy India (SEI) Private Limited today signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore opportunities for import of ethane and other hydrocarbons and development of evacuation infrastructure at Shell Energy Terminal, Hazira.

Earlier, GAIL had entered into a bilateral MoU with SEI for scouting opportunities in different facets of energy cooperation, wherein a feasibility study was conducted by a reputed consultant on developing ethane import infrastructure in the existing SEI terminal at Hazira. ONGC has a bilateral MoU with GAIL for, inter alia, importing and handling of hydrocarbon. In view of the emergence of ethane requirement in India and proposed development of ethane infrastructure, the three parties ONGC, GAIL and SEI have joined hands.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Rajeev Kumar Singhal, Director (Business Development), GAIL said that, "Ethane has emerged as a preferred petrochemical precursor in India and development of its import facilities have gained considerable traction. Definite plans are being formulated to import ethane for domestic petrochemical plant requirements."

Echoing the sentiment, ONGC Group General Manager & Head Petrochemicals Shri Ashok Kumar, said that going forward, ethane is the fuel of the future as feedstock to Indian petrochemical industry. India is adding good petchem capacities and making available viable and affordable ethane is the key for the plans ahead.

This MoU includes cooperation with clear focus for developing ethane import facilities after gap assessment in existing Shell Hazira Tenilinal facilities and usage of existing pipeline routes and facilities. The MoU signed envisages to foster efficiency and swift progress of the shared project by leveraging the combined strengths of all three parties.

The move coincides with the objective towards assessment of existing operational infrastructure, ensuring its sufficiency, operational flexibility and effective management of upstream and downstream uncertainties.

The MoU is expected to offer new business prospects to all the parties along with offering diversification of petrochemical feedstock while aligning with the national priorities and Govermnent of India's Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self Reliant India) mission with manufacturing in India.

Shares of GAIL (India) Limited was last trading in BSE at Rs. 188.55 as compared to the previous close of Rs. 190.40. The total number of shares traded during the day was 366888 in over 3631 trades.

The stock hit an intraday high of Rs. 192.45 and intraday low of 187.70. The net turnover during the day was Rs. 69730281.00.

Shares of Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited was last trading in BSE at Rs. 278.05 as compared to the previous close of Rs. 280.25. The total number of shares traded during the day was 489590 in over 8226 trades.

The stock hit an intraday high of Rs. 284.20 and intraday low of 277.15. The net turnover during the day was Rs. 137421533.00.

Source : Equity Bulls

Keywords

GAILIndia INE129A01019 OilandNaturalGasCorporation INE213A01029 ONGC ShellEnergyIndia TripartieMoU