Will Gujarat's Request for Cheaper Gas Supply be Fruitful?

By siliconindia  |  Tuesday, 28 January 2020, 07:16:22 PM IST

Will Gujarat's Request for Cheaper Gas Supply be Fruitful?

Gujarat Energy Minister Saurabhbhai Patel has requested Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Qatar, to provide gas to the state at a reasonable price on a long-term basis. Lately, a bilateral meeting was held between Union Minister of Petroleum, Natural Gas & Steel Dharmendra Pradhan and Saad Sherida, and Saurabhbhai also attended the meeting.

In the meeting, Saurabhbhai apprised Saad Sherida that the state government owns about 2500 MW while the private sector owns around 1500 MW gas-based power plants. This makes a total of 4000 MW gas-based power plants in Gujarat. Approximately, if 70 percent of plants run, then about 3.5 million tons of gas per annum would be required for the state.

Saurabhbhai further stated that Gujarat supplies gas through a pipeline to approximately 18 lakh households and thus, a target has been set to reach a minimum of 22 to 24 lakh households. Moreover, the country has the capacity to generate a total gas-based power more than 24,000 MW and Gujarat's share would be 21 percent of the total gas-based power generated.

Throughout the discussion in the meeting, Saurabhbhai demanded Qatar to supply gas to Gujarat at a reasonable fare. In response to the request, the Qatar Minister assured Saurabhbhai that he would consider his request, analyse the matter and do the needful.

ON THE DECK

siliconindia