H-Energy's floating LNG terminal at Jaigarh inaugurated

H-Energy, a unit of real estate group Hiranandani, today said its floating LNG import terminal at Jaigarh port in Maharashtra has been launched and the facility would be operational by end of 2018.

H-Energy Gateway Pvt Ltd's 4-million-tonnes a year floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), costing Rs 1,663 crore, was inaugurated by Maharasthra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the company said in a statement here.

The Jaigarh Port is owned and operated by JSW Infrastructure -- the maritime infrastructure development arm of USD 12 billion JSW Group.

"The launch of India's first FSRU based LNG terminal marks a new era of opportunities to drive the development of port-based industries and social infrastructure in India," it said.

Import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) using a ship-based terminal will begin in fourth quarter of 2018.

The FSRU will be berthed at Jaigarh, the starting point for a H-Energy's proposed 635-km coastal pipeline to Mangalore to open up new gas markets. It will convert LNG shipped from multiple suppliers back into gas, before transferring it onshore. A 60-km pipeline connecting the terminal to the port has already been laid.

The terminal "will be capable of reloading LNG into other vessels," the statement said. "The LNG terminal will cater to the need of clean, safe and affordable natural gas. H-Energy's LNG terminal is also expected to greatly benefit the state of Maharashtra by providing clean fuel for transportation and households".

Once operational, this will be the fifth LNG import terminal on the west coast and second in Maharashtra. The west coast already has four LNG import terminals -- Dahej and Hazira in Gujarat; Dabhol in Maharashtra and Kochi in Kerala.

Jaigarh also houses the 5-million-tonnes Dabhol LNG terminal operated by gas utility Gail India.

Niranjan Hiranandani, Chairman, Hiranandani Group, said the company continues to work on other projects at a steady pace. "We would like to reiterate our commitment towards creating infrastructure that will help improve the lives of the people."
Darshan Hiranandani, MD & CEO, H-Energy said, "The FSRU-led approach will usher a sectoral change in terms of reducing the time taken for commissioning such re-gasification projects. This project enables H-Energy to become a large scale provider of natural gas to India, a much desired green fuel."