The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation of key projects of the oil and gas sector in Tamil Nadu today via video conferencing. Prime Minister dedicated the Ramanathapuram – Thoothukudi natural gas pipeline and Gasoline Desulphurisation Unit at Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited, Manali. He also laid the foundation stone of Cauvery Basin Refinery at Nagapattinam. Governor and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas were present on the occasion.

Touching upon the ‘One Nation One Gas Grid’ vision, the Prime Minister said  the centre planned to spend Rs seven and a half lakh crores in creating oil and gas infrastructure over five years. A strong emphasis has been laid on the expansion of city gas distribution networks by covering 407 districts.

Mr. Modi also pointed out the need to effectively create clean energy sources which is the future of the Country. He said dependence on import of oil and gas should reduce considerably by 2030. He assured that the Government was working to reach the growing energy demand of the Country. He said that projects were launched to meet the demands of oil and gas.

Prime Minister Modi said that India was set to become a leader in solar power. He also said that there was a need to increase ethanol production.

Pointing out the concerns of the Government towards the middle class, Mr Modi said that more public utility vehicles will function on CNG.

The 143 kilometer of the Ennore Thiruvallur Bengaluru Puducherry Nagapattinam Madurai Tuticorin Natural gas pipeline has been laid at a cost of Rs 700 crore. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of the Cauvery Basin Refinery at Nagapattinam.

The Cauvery Basin Refinery project estimated at a cost of Rs 31,500 crore will be set up at Nagapattinam at  a capacity of nine million tps. This joint venture between IOCL and CPCL  will produce motor spirit and diesel with BS VI specifications and polypropylene as a value added product. These projects result in socio economic benefits and boost the Country’s Urja aatmanir bharta.  

The project will help utilise gas from ONGC fields and deliver natural gas as feedstock to industries and other commercial customers.

He also inaugurated the gasoline desulphurisation unit at CPCL Manali which has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 500 crore. The unit will produce low sulphur environment friendly gasoline and help reduce emission contributing  towards a cleaner environment. Tamilnadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy thanked the Prime Minister for inaugurating the projects.