5.5 crore new LPG connections in 5 years: Deora

The government is planning to release about 5.5 crore new LPG connections over the next five years,Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora said.

At present,oil marketing companies supply domestic LPG cylinders to nearly 11 crore households covering about half the population of the country,he said at a function here. The highest priority of the central government is to enhance energy security of the country and making petroleum products available to common man at affordable prices,the minister said.

Deora promised to consider demand of the Gujarat government on providing piped gas supply to 2.85 lakhs small and medium scale units in the state as suggested by the Minister of State for Power and Industries Saurabh Patel.

Patel wanted allocation of natural gas from the Godawari fields of eastern India discovered by Reliance Industries to these units in the state.

Deora said a large number of gas-based projects are being developed in Gujarat at an investment of Rs 28,000 crore.

A petrochemical plant at Dahej by ONGC and Gail,expansion of the LNG Regassification Terminal by Petronet LNG also at Dahej,a new LNG Regassification Terminal at Hazira on the outskirt of Surat by Shell were some of the projects under development.

Besides,he said laying of gas pipelines like Hazira-Vijapur-Jagdishpur (HVJ) pipeline,Dahej Vijapur pipeline (DVPL) and Dahej- Uran pipeline (DUPL) by GAIL are some of the other initiatives being taken for developing gas market in Gujarat,Deora said.

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Gujarat is a major gas hub and accounts for about 37 per cent of the total gas sale in the country,he said.

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