GAIL (India), IOCL gain after picking stake in upcoming Dhamra LNG terminal

GAIL (India) and Indian Oil Corporation rose 1.71% and 0.78% respectively at 11:05 IST on BSE after both these companies signed memorandum of understanding for taking equity stake in upcoming Dhamra LNG terminal.

The announcement was made during market hours today, 22 September 2016.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 290.38 points, or 1.02%, to 28,797.80.

GAIL (India) rose 1.71% to Rs 393.50. Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) gained 0.78% to Rs 575.60.

GAIL (India) and IOCL announced signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dhamra LNG Terminal (DLTPL) for taking equity in the 5 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) capacity liquified natural gas (LNG) receiving, storage and regasification terminal being put up at Dhamra Port, Odisha. As per the MoU, DLTPL shall be an equal joint venture (JV) of IOCL and GAIL (India) on one hand and Adani Group on the other. IOCL and GAIL (India) would acquire 39% and 11% equity respectively in DLTPL with the balance 50% being held by Adani group. Going forward, IOCL and Adani group will each divest 1% of their respective stake to a credible financial institution which will then have 2% stake in the terminal. Apart from equity, IOCL and GAIL (India) intend to book regasification capacity of 3 and 1.5 MMTPA respectively in the terminal.

The development comes in the backdrop of Government's consistent focus on undertaking welfare and growth measures in eastern India so as to bring this hitherto underdeveloped region into the economic mainstream of the country.

Presently, the states in eastern India viz. Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal are not able to get the benefits of natural gas in sectors like domestic, transport, industries etc., as the region does not have gas infrastructure by way of LNG Terminals and cross-country gas pipeline grid. The LNG Terminal at Dhamra would provide the potential customers in these states a clean and economically viable alternative which will also help in reducing the carbon footprint. This will also provide momentum to the economic growth of this region by attracting new industrial projects.

The LNG Terminal would also meet the gas requirements of three oil refineries of IOCL situated in Barauni, Haldia and Paradip. The three fertilizers plants at Barauni, Sindri and Gorakhpur which are being revived by Govt. of India will also benefit from this terminal. The natural gas from the terminal would also be supplied to various City Gas Distribution networks coming up in eastern India, which in turn would cater to the requirements of piped gas for households, CNG for automobiles and clean fuel requirements of commercial establishments and industries. It is, therefore, expected that once operational, Dhamra LNG terminal will emerge as a bridge to prosperity for the entire eastern India.

GAIL (India)'s net profit jumped 244% to Rs 1335.18 crore on 14.6% decline in net sales to Rs 10686.58 crore in Q1 June 2016 over Q1 June 2015.

State-run GAIL (India) is India's largest natural gas company with a market share of over 80% in natural gas transmission. Apart from natural gas transmission, distribution and processing, GAIL has diversified business interests in LPG transmission, petrochemicals, city gas projects and exploration and production activities. Government of India (GoI) holds 56.11% stake in GAIL (as per shareholding pattern as on 30 June 2016).

IOCL's net profit rose 25.5% to Rs 8268.98 crore on 15.3% fall in net sales to Rs 85655.31 crore in Q1 June 2016 over Q1 June 2015.

IOCL is India's flagship national oil company, with business interests that straddle the entire hydrocarbon value chain - from refining, pipeline transportation and marketing of petroleum products to exploration & production of crude oil & gas as well as marketing of natural gas and petrochemicals. The Government of India held 58.28% stake in IOCL (as per the shareholding pattern as on 30 June 2016).

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