Gir-Somnath: Gujarat State Petronet Ltd (GSPL) has announced the commissioning of a natural gas pipeline connecting the newly established 5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) LNG import terminal at Chhara to the national gas grid. With a transportation capacity of 18 million standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd), the pipeline was developed by GSPL at an investment of ₹650 crore.

The pipeline runs along the periphery of the eco-sensitive zone of Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary, home to Asiatic lions. GSPL confirmed its commissioning on March 20.

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) has set up the LNG import facility at Chhara, where liquefied natural gas—natural gas cooled to liquid form for easier transportation—is regasified and supplied to consumers such as power plants and fertilizer industries through pipelines. The terminal is operated by HPCL LNG Limited, a subsidiary of HPCL.

The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) work for the pipeline—extending from the HPCL LNG terminal in Chhara to Lothpur in Amreli district, including a dispatch terminal, valve stations, and a receiving terminal—was awarded to Mumbai-based Ace Pipeline Contracts Private Limited in September 2023, the release stated. DeshGujarat