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Mr. Prashanto Banerjee (left), CMD, GAIL, exchanging documents with Mr Nicolas Saverys, CEO, EXMAR, after signing an agreement in the presence of the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Mani Sharkar Aiyar, in the Capital on Wednesday. - Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi , Nov. 9

GAIL (India) Ltd has signed a memorandum of understanding with EXMAR Marine NV, Belgium for jointly pursing liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) import projects in India.

The two will co-operate in projects using EXMAR's on-board LNG re-gasification technology for import of LNG and to use the Belgium-based company's logistic expertise for transportation of CNG through ship.

Mr Proshanto Banerjee, Chairman and Managing Director, GAIL, said under the agreement the two companies would evaluate the merits including the technical, operational and commercial aspects of conventional LNG transportation versus LNGRV (liquefied natural gas regasification vessel) for the transportation and re-gasification of LNG and transportation of CNG that can be implemented to serve the LNG/CNG imports.

EXMAR has developed a new application LNGRV for the transportation and re-gassification of LNG, consisting of a standard LNG carrier that, while retaining the ability to transport as a conventional vessel, has been modified to regassify LNG and discharge it in various modes.

The two companies will co-operate on specific LNG or CNG import projects for India and share each other's expertise with respect to gas/LNG/CNG procurement, distribution, transportation and storage re-gassification to jointly develop one more LNG/CNG import project in India, he said.

The two companies will also establish a joint steering committee, which will co-ordinate the activities of the parties, Mr Banerjee said.

He also said GAIL, EXMAR along with Enersea might forge an alliance to bring gas from Myanmar. Mr Banjeree did not rule out the possibility of creating a joint venture company between GAIL and EXMAR in the event the two deciding to proceed with a project.

Meanwhile, GAIL is commissioning a feasibility study for the application of LNGRV at Hazira in Gujarat, Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, and Kerawalapitiya in Sri Lanka. Speaking at the occasion, the Petroleum Minister, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, underlined three important aspects of this understanding to bring in gas from Myanmar, meet the need for gas to commission the Dabhol project, and help solve the problems of the power producers of Andhra Pradesh and peninsular India.

The Minister also hinted that this tie-up gave GAIL the flexibility to set up the GAIL gas grid that could become a national gas grid.

The agreement was inked by Mr Proshanto Banerjee, Chairman and Managing Director, GAIL, and Mr Nicolas Saverys, CEO EXMAR, in the presence of Mr Aiyar, and Mr Patrick De Beyter, Belgium Ambassador to India.

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