Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has planned to invest funds to the tune of Rs 100 billion to create an end-to-end natural gas value chain. It will invest funds in various liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities through a combination of joint ventures (JV) or private participation. The funds will be spread over a period of five years. Accordingly, the oil and gas company is trying to create a value chain, right from LNG buying to LNG conversion to gas as well as LNG transportation.
Currently, HPCL is setting up 11 LNG stations across multiple locations. It is also in talks with various auto manufacturers to encourage them to develop facilities for LNG-based trucks and buses. In this respect, it has approved a corridor project worth Rs 1 billion which can be used along with other oil marketing companies to use LNG as a fuel along with compressed natural gas.
HPCL is also working on a parallel mode of LNG and hydrogen compressed natural gas. The company holds stake in the LNG gasification terminal for cross-country pipelines for transportation of LNG. Besides, HPCL is developing a 5 million tonnes (mt) LNG gasification terminal at Chhara, Gir Somnath district, Gujarat. It is being developed through a JV, HPCL Shapoorji Energy Private Limited. Meanwhile, HPCL has participated in the development of three cross-country natural gas pipelines, Mehsana to Bathinda, Bathinda to Srinagar and Mallavaram to Bhilwara, through JV companies – GSPL India Gasnet Limited and GSPL India Transco Limited