Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is all set to start natural gas production from the KG-D6 block of RIL, Indias biggest offshore gas reserve located in the Krishna Godavari basin, by mid-March.
About 15 fertilizer factories across the country and seven power plants in Andhra Pradesh, will, however, have to wait for another fortnight, that is till April first week, before they receive gas supplies. It takes that much time to build pressure in the labyrinthine pipelines that run across from Gadimoga, billed by RIL as one of the worlds most advanced gas handling terminals, to Bharuch in Gujarat, a distance of 1,400 km.
P. M. S. Prasad, RIL President & CEO, Petroleum, has expressed optimism to supply gas to GVK-II, Gautami, Konaseema and Vemagiri, besides three other power plants running at sub-optimal capacity by the second half of April, around the time that general elections are held.
This can happen only if the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGom) gives priority for supply to these plants which have a combined capacity of 2,700 MW. Once they operate to full capacity, the Rajasekhara Reddy governments woes with power shortage will end.
He said that the production of oil will start by February-end with initial output of 20,000 barrels per day (bpd) and stepped upto 40,000 bpd by December.
Mr. Prasad disclosed without going into details that RIL was looking at further investments for more gas discoveries further into the sea in KG basin.
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