Philippine global engineering firm AG&P (Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific Co. of Manila) has secured rights to put up facilities in India to make natural gas available to residents and businesses in two areas of the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The grant to AG&P along with 22 other entities was part of New Delhi’s ninth bidding round for city gas distribution projects (CGD) that covers 63 geographical areas across India, including seven areas in Tamil Nadu.
The Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board awarded to the homegrown multinational’s unit AG&P LNG Marketing Pte Ltd. rights to build LNG facilities in the districts of Kanchipuram and Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu. Karthik Sathyamoorthy, president of AG&P LNG Marketing, said in a statement this added to AG&P’s portfolio in India. AG&P are also building an LNG terminal in Karaikal, in the union territory of Puducherry.
He said AG&P were investing heavily in gas infrastructure to support India’s drive to switch to natural gas as a clean and affordable source of fuel. In Tamil Nadu, AG&P’s CGD networks will deliver natural gas “directly, safely and conveniently” to houses, gas stations, industrial and commercial establishments.” CGD concessions are intended to make natural gas available for use as compressed gas for use as automotive fuel as well as piped gas for households, commercial establishments and industrial businesses.
“This landmark CGD project for these two districts [of Tamil Nadu] and others across the region will reduce energy costs, create jobs, trigger economic and social development, and lead to much needed cleaner air, improving the quality of life for the people of Tamil Nadu,” the company president said. So far, India has awarded CGD rights covering 178 districts across the country that together represent about 46 percent of the population and 35 percent of its land area.
