Despite the ongoing tension in West Asia, Indian flag tankers carrying LPG and crude oil for India are reaching Gujarat ports safely. This has provided immediate relief regarding energy supply.
Nanda Devi will reach Kandla Port today
Tanker Shivalik, carrying 46,000 tonnes of LPG from Ras Laffan Port in Qatar, reached Mundra Port on Monday after a nine-day journey. Similarly, Nanda Devi tanker carrying about 46,000 tonnes of LPG is going to reach Kandla Port on Tuesday morning. Both ships are owned by the government company Shipping Corporation of India.
Jag Ladki expected to reach Mundra Port today
At the same time, crude oil tanker Jag Ladki, which left from Fujairah Port of UAE on Saturday, is expected to reach Mundra on Tuesday afternoon. This ship is bringing about 81,000 tonnes of Murban crude. The special thing is that the ship had departed on the same day when the Fujairah oil terminal was attacked. Shipping Ministry’s Special Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha said that all Indian sailors working in the Persian Gulf region are safe.
According to sources, 20,000 tonnes of LPG coming from Shivalik will be unloaded at Mundra, while the remaining 26,000 tonnes will be sent to New Mangalore Port. Whereas Nanda Devi’s LPG will be transferred to small ships in the sea at Vadinar near Kandla Port, so that it can be supplied to different places.
Officials said that there is a special storage facility at Mundra Port, from where the gas is sent through pipeline to GAIL via Mithi Rohar in Gandhidham and then supplied across the country through the National Gas Grid.
What instructions did the government give?
The government has instructed major ports to monitor ship movements and expedite cargo operations. Under this, concessions are being given in anchorage, berth hire and storage charges, along with the facility of temporary transshipment has also been made available at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority.
Here, after instructions to increase LPG production, HPCL Mittal Energy (Bathinda) and Reliance Refinery (Jamnagar) have placed additional demand for rail rakes, so that the gas supply can be delivered rapidly across the country.