Unocal Plans Trans-Asia Gas Pipeline

Unocal Corporation of USA, with Paharpur Cooling Towers Ltd, plans to link natural gas supplies to markets in India, and as far east as Myanmar, from South Asia under 'Project Energy Renaissance'. The proposed project will also develop market in West Bengal.

This project is likely to be a part of a trans-Asia natural gas network of existing and proposed stand-alone pipelines which would eventually connect markets throughout Asia. However, at home, the project proposes to supply 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas to industrial centres in West Bengal, combined cycle power plants with a total capacity of upto 1,500 MW and a 2,350-tonne per day fertiliser plant in Haldia.

As per a press communique, this integrated project is estimated to cost over $ 2 billion.

The trans-Asia natural gas network is part of Unocal's plan that would include existing and proposed pipelines in Thailand and Myanmar, as well as proposed pipelines in Central and South Asia. Unocal has substantial reserves and exploration projects in Myanmar. It is also leading the CantGas consortium that proposes to develop a natural gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to markets in Pakistan and India.