GAIL, ONGC, and Shell Collaborate to Import Ethane in Gujarat’s Hazira

New Delhi, March 7 (IANS) GAIL (India) Limited, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Shell Energy India (SEI) Private Limited signed a tripartite MoU to explore opportunities for importing ethane and other hydrocarbons, along with developing evacuation infrastructure at Shell Energy Terminal in Gujarat’s Hazira port.

The agreement comes after GAIL and SEI’s previous bilateral MoU for energy cooperation, which included a feasibility study on ethane import infrastructure at Hazira. ONGC also has a bilateral MoU with GAIL for handling hydrocarbons, leading to this collaboration due to the growing ethane demand in India.

Rajeev Kumar Singhal, Director (Business Development) at GAIL, stated, “Ethane has emerged as a preferred petrochemical feedstock in India, and plans are being formulated to import it for domestic petrochemical plant needs.” The MoU includes developing ethane import facilities in Shell Hazira Terminal and utilizing existing pipeline routes.

The signing of this MoU aims to enhance efficiency and progress in the project by utilizing the combined strengths of the three parties — GAIL, ONGC, and SEI. The cooperation is focused on developing ethane import infrastructure and utilizing existing facilities in Hazira, highlighting the commitment to meeting India’s petrochemical demands effectively.