Gail to hive off gas trading business into separate unit

Hiving off gas trading business into a separate company would be achieved in stages beginning with separation of accounts, creation of strategic business unit (SBU) and finally a separate corporate entity that becomes listed on major bourses, he said adding separation of accounts has begun from 2003-04. While the new entity, whose name is yet to be decided, would be responsible for purchasing gas from producers and importers and selling to consumers, Gail (India) would retain business such as pipeline transportation, LPG production, petrochemicals and telecom.

The proposed 7,900-km national gas grid would be ready by 2008. The national gas grid would include 610-km Dahej-Vijaipur pipeline, 520-km Dahej-Uran, 1250-km Kakinada-Hyderabad-Pune, 1150-km Kakinada-Kolkata, 580-km Kakinada-Chennai, 500-km Chennai-Bangalore, 900-km Dabhol-Bangalore-Coimbatore-Kochi and 980-km Kolkata-Jagdishpur pipeline.