Largest underground LPG storage cavern completed in Mangaluru

Mangaluru: The country’s largest underground LPG storage cavern with a capacity of 80,000 metric tonnes has been completed near Bala in Mangaluru.

Developed by the Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) for Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), the facility is a significant step toward strengthening India’s strategic LPG reserves.

The X handle of the MEIL said that “all the tests were completed successfully on June 6, 2025. This is special because it's only the second LPG storage cavern in India. And it's the biggest one yet, able to hold 80,000 metric tonnes of LPG. A very important part of the project was the Cavern Acceptance Test, or CAT. We ran this test from May 9, to June 6.” it said.

The Cavern Acceptance Test (CAT) involved a rigorous three-phase procedure.

The CAT began with the pressurisation phase, gradually increasing internal pressure to 8.310 kilo per square centimetre. This was followed by a 100-hour stabilisation phase, during which all vents were sealed to monitor for leaks. Finally, the depressurisation phase ensured the system could return safely. The outcome confirmed the cavern’s complete sealing and readiness for safe LPG storage.

Engineered as a subterranean marvel, the facility features a 1,083-metre access tunnel, upper and lower water curtains measuring 578.2 metres and 804.31 metres, respectively, and 486.2 metres of connecting tunnels. The two main storage caverns are located at depths of 220 metres and 225 metres, respectively, with a vertical shaft extending 164.1 metres.

The cavern will have the capacity to hold approximately six lakh barrels of gas, equivalent to 60 million litres of fuel. About 500 skilled workers and engineers were on-site, utilising advanced machinery to ensure the project’s success, said MEIL.