Gujarat : Power

Power and energy have been crucial to any nations economic and industrial growth. Gujarat with its cross section of industries needs adequate and uninterrupted supply of power. Needless to say, that the state government has kick started a slew of power and gas based projects to meet the multifarious requirements of Gujarat's industrial hubs and zones. According to the Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB), - Gujarat's premier body responsible for industrial and infrastructure development - since the jurisdiction issues pertaining to LNG have been cleared, the state now can freely invest in the transportation and distribution of Liquefied Natural Gas. The state has been always in the forefront to tap energy sources to meet its burgeoning power requirements, the Gujarat government has set up a company thatwill be a hub for the 3,700 crore Gujarat gas-grid project. The gas grid is expected to provide energy to several gas-based power projects. In order to meet the state's industrial power needs 4 major LNG terminals coming are being set up in hte Gulf of Khambatt. These include, the Gujarat Pipavav - British gaster-minal, Petronet LNG's Dahej terminal, Hazira and the 2.5 million LNG terminal at Maroli. The maintenance and operation of these pipelines would be executed through tender bids. Private equity participation to the tune of 40% expected from high net worth domestic and multi national corporate houses. Due to its strategic linkages with several upstream and down stream industries the state government has taken the construction of these gas pipelines on a priority basis. Taking cue from the telecom industry the gas grid will have a circle wise distribution system and will be auctioned out to bidders - a move that would open up the domestic market for LNG.