Mumbai: Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has successfully commissioned its state-of-the-art LNG Regasification Terminal at Chhara, Gujarat, marking a significant milestone in India's energy journey. This new facility is a crucial step toward fulfilling the Government of India’s vision of increasing the share of natural gas in the country’s energy basket to 15% by 2030. The terminal will help enhance energy security, promote cleaner energy, and reduce carbon emissions in the long term.

Located at Chhara Port in Gir-Somnath district, Gujarat, the terminal is equipped with cutting-edge facilities for LNG receipt, marine unloading, storage, road tanker loading, regasification, and the supply of regasified LNG to the national gas grid. The terminal has an initial regasification capacity of 5 MMTPA, which is expandable to 10 MMTPA. With a gross storage capacity of 400,000 cubic meters in two tanks—the largest in India—the terminal is poised to become a cornerstone of India’s natural gas infrastructure.

The terminal operates on a tolling model, allowing third-party users to access its services through long-term capacity booking contracts and Master Regasification Agreements for spot cargoes. This model is designed to ensure efficient utilization of the terminal's capacity and provide flexibility to meet the growing demand for natural gas across the country.

The Chhara LNG terminal is a vital part of HPCL's broader strategy to expand its presence across the natural gas value chain. In addition to LNG imports, HPCL is actively involved in developing city gas distribution (CGD) networks, with joint ventures working on projects across 25 geographical areas covering 70 districts in 15 states. HPCL is also driving LNG retailing efforts, with operational dispensing facilities in locations such as Oran (Gujarat), Satara (Maharashtra), Ajmer (Rajasthan), and Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), and plans to add seven more stations. The company is also participating in the development of cross-country pipeline networks and expanding its LNG portfolio to meet the needs of refineries, CGD networks, and bulk consumers.

BI Bureau