New Delhi: The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has extended the deadline for the submission of bids for the development of an Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) pipeline from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) for a second time. In a notification released on Wednesday, PNGRB said that the last date for downloading the bid document and bid submission for the development of the ATF pipeline has been extended to July 8 and the technical bid opening date has been extended to July 12. Earlier in March this year, the regulatory body had extended the deadline for bid submission to May 8 in view of the requests received from potential bidders.
According to sources in the know of the matter, all the three state-run oil marketing companies — Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) — are keen on throwing their hat in the ring. In addition, Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and IndianOil Tanking, a joint venture company between Indian Oil and Oiltanking India are interested in putting in bids for developing the ATF pipeline from JNPT to Navi Mumbai airport, sources added.
The JNPT-Navi Mumbai ATF pipeline will be 15-km-long and will have a capacity of 2 MTPA. The Navi Mumbai Airport needs four ATF pipelines, however, the PNGRB has invited bids only for one pipeline right now. The three PSU oil marketing companies — Indian Oil, HPCL and BPCL — have a dominant present in the jet fuel market with a lion's share of 90 percent.
(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Telegram & Twitter as well. Join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram and follow us on Twitter to stay updated)