Gas in the pipeline

Natural gas would have been in our kitchens by now, but for the city gas distribution network not being in place. It will take a few years before this

The recent commissioning of the Dabhol-Bangalore gas pipeline by the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) paves the way for the establishment of a piped gas network to supply natural gas directly to households in Bangalore City.

There are, however, quite a few challenges to overcome before the gas reaches our kitchens. Deccan Herald spoke to residents, experts in the field, implementing agencies and government officials on what it takes for Bangalore to realise the dream of piped gas that is in the pipeline.

First things first. There is no doubt natural gas (liquefied natural gas or LNG) has many benefits over liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) currently being used by most of us. According to experts, natural gas is a lot safer, cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

With the cost of petroleum products in the international market touching new highs every now and then, Bangalore, as a growing city, needs to think seriously about adopting alternatives such as natural gas as early as possible.

Also, piped natural gas will come in handy for the mushrooming apartments, as flat owners face inconveniences due to the cap on the number of LPG cylinders.

Backbone

The gas pipeline originating at Dabhol in Maharashtra has reached the City outskirts via Belgaum, Dharwad, Gadag, Bellary, Davangere, Chitradurga, Tumkur and Ramanagar districts, including 19 taluks and 265 villages.

Inside Bangalore, around 73 km of gas pipeline has already been laid along the Outer Ring Road (ORR), so that it will be easier for establishing a city gas distribution (CGD) network for Bangalore. The pipeline along the ORR (from Mysore Road to Hosur Road) covers many prominent areas, including Yeshwantpur, BEL area, Hebbal, Nagawara, Indiranagar, Koramangala, Devarabisanahalli, Bommanahalli and BTM Layout, as a backbone to set up the CGD.

However, the task before the State government is to put in place an intra-city pipeline network to supply natural gas to households.

N Ramachandra, civic expert and member of the Indian Institute of Engineers, feels that the CGD network should have been in place by now in Bangalore. The State government should have started laying gas pipelines within the City as soon as a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed with GAIL for the Dabhol-Bangalore project in April 2009.

As of now, the plan for CGD is not even on paper and gas has already arrived at Bangalore’s doorsteps, he said.

G L Jere, Executive Director, Karnataka State Industrial Investment and Development Corporation Limited (KSIIDC), said KSIIDC had signed an MoU with GAIL a few years ago for implementing CGD. Very soon, a related business plan will be submitted to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) to obtain licence to get on with the CGD job.

Infrastructure, a challenge

Civic experts say that with the sad state of affairs, vis-a-vis the road infrastructure in the City, any implementing agency needs to be extra careful before moving ahead with CGD. Urban planner A S Kodandapani said establishing a CGD calls for large-scale road cutting across the City, as gas pipelines have to be laid four to six feet beneath the ground. With no duct system in place for the City, setting up infrastructure will take at least three years, he said.

A senior official with GAIL said another problem before implementing the CGD for Bangalore will be establishing a medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) pipeline parallel to the existing gas line along the ORR. “With PNGRB making no provision for establishing such a line in the preliminary stage, we have to dig the existing pipeline again, once we get the licence for setting up the CGD,” he said.

When asked how long it would take to implement the CGD, he said it all depended on how serious the State government was about the project. “As far as we are concerned, if we get the licence today, it would take at least six months to supply gas to the first house in Bangalore. To establish the set-up for the entire City, it will take at least three years,” he said.

Public concerns

Suppose all hurdles are passed and natural gas enters our kitchens. In such an event, what will be the price? Is there a need to change burners? How efficient will the natural gas be compared with LPG? And how safe is it? Will it be sufficient for the growing fuel demand of the City?

Another GAIL official said the public need not worry about pricing as even imported natural gas would be cheaper than LPG. As the country is moving towards self-sufficiency in generating natural gas and with more domestic players chipping in, the price will fall further in the coming years.

Besides, households need not have to change their stoves or burners as LNG can be readily used with the existing apparatus.

The efficiency of natural gas is more compared with LPG, as it burns completely, leaving no ash or smoke.

On safety, the official said even if there is a leakage either in the pipeline or in the house, there are less chances of a mishap occurring, as natural gas, which is thinner than air, easily escapes into the atmosphere.

On the other hand, there is always a danger lurking with the LPG, as it is thick and triggers explosion.

In New Delhi, more than 10 lakh homes are using piped natural gas for 15 years and there has been no case of mishap, he said.

Asked whether the supply volume of LNG was sufficient for Bangalore, the official said the available supply through GAIL would be more than sufficient for the entire City for the next four years. This despite continuous supply to hundreds of industries and other bulk users who would be tapping the gas from the set-up.

“The existing capacity of the Dabhol-Bangalore gas pipeline is 16 million metric standard cubic metre per day (MMSCMD) and what we need for the Bangalore CGD is 0.8 MMSCMD, as per a recent survey conducted by us,” he said.

However, people want the government to be cautious while going for CGD. Joseph Raju, a private company employee, said getting piped natural gas to the City was commendable, but the government should ensure safety mechanisms are in place. The public should also be educated about the project, he said.

Sumaya K, a housewife, said with reckless road digging by civic agencies and private players in the City, gas pipeline could spell a disaster if not handled properly. “Responsibility is crucial for both the implementing agencies and the public at large before we tap the piped gas,” she said.