Jamshedpur gets its first supply of PNG, courtesy GAIL

Jamshedpur: Jharkhand's Jamshedpur got its first supply of PNG on Friday, courtesy state-run Gas Authority of India Limited. As part of Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga in Jharkhand, Chief Minister of Jharkhand Raghubar Das, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda and Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the supply of domestic Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station in Jamshedpur on Friday in the presence of several dignitaries.

Work commences on 125-km-long pipeline in Jamshedpur

During the event, work for laying a 125-km-long spur pipeline from Purulia to Jamshedpur also commenced. This will feed the city gas distribution networks of East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan geographical areas. Several rolling-steel, wire and pipe along with automobile industries would be benefited by the availability of cheaper and continuous fuel. The projects are being implemented by GAIL (India) Limited which is constructing the prestigious Jagdishpur – Haldia Bokaro-Dhamra and Barauni – Guwahati Natural Gas Pipeline (JHBDPL), popularly known as the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga and also the City Gas Distribution (CGD) projects in Ranchi and Jamshedpur.

Natural gas will reach Jamshedpur in special containers for now

Initially, natural gas will reach Jamshedpur in special containers called "cascades", which will be transported by road from Patna, Bihar. Later, natural gas will be supplied through the Purulia-Jamshedpur (spur-line) from the JHBDPL. Natural gas is a happy fuel for customers, society and the nation because of its availability as well as benign, clean and developmental nature. It is one of the more efficient and green fossil fuels and reduces the dependency on other fossil fuels.

More than 1 lakh households to benefit from CGD network

The total area of Jamshedpur City Gas Distribution (CGD) project is around 3,562 square km. Under this CGD project, more than 1 lakh households will be benefited. Around 125 commercial connections, 85 industrial connections and many CNG vehicles will also be benefited. It will also help in increasing the possibilities to set up gas-based Industries in and nearby Jamshedpur, increase Job opportunities for youth and multiply the revenue of Jharkhand state.

'PNG supply major step towards gas-based economy'

"The commencement of supply of CNG is a major step towards the fulfilment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of developing a gas-based economy and linking Eastern India to the country's Natural Gas Grid through the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga, which will pass through five states, ie Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. Laying of 551 km of the pipeline of this project will be done in Jharkhand. This pipeline will lead to the industrial development of eastern India," an official release said.

22 CNG stations to be commissioned in Jharkhand

In coming years, 22 CNG stations will be commissioned in Jharkhand (Ranchi & Jamshedpur), including 11 in Jamshedpur by GAIL, to supply CNG to over 1.25 lakh vehicles and PNG supply to 2.43 lakh households. CGD projects in Ranchi and Jamshedpur are being taken up in parallel with the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga pipeline. In Jharkhand, the natural gas pipeline will be constructed at an estimated investment of Rs 4,366 crores and have a length of about 551 km covering 12 districts i.e. Chatra, Giridih, Hazaribagh, Bokaro, Ramgarh, Dhanbad, Saraikela, Ranchi, Khunti, Gumla, Simdega and East Singhbhum.

Money matters

The overall capital expenditure for the Ranchi and Jamshedpur CGD projects will be Rs 1,500 crores of which Rs 450 crores will be spent in the next three to five years. Out of these Rs 450 crores, approx Rs 221 crores will be in Jamshedpur. "The JHBDPL will provide a major boost to industries in eastern India and will supply Natural Gas for the revival of fertilizer plants in Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), Barauni (Bihar), Sindri (Jharkhand) and Talcher (Odisha). The revival of these fertilizer plants would result in an additional annual production capacity of 75 lakh tonne, making India self-reliant in meeting the annual domestic demand," the release added.