Megha building gas infra for green future in TS, AP

Hyderabad: The Hydrocarbon Division of city-based infrastructure major Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL), which bagged projects from Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) to distribute natural gas in parts of AP, Telangana and Karnataka, is developing gas infrastructure for a green future in the three States.

P Rajesh Reddy, Vice- President, MEIL, said in a statement here that Megha Gas is already supplying PNG and CNG to various customers and planning to expand operations aggressively.

MEIL has established a network for distribution of natural gas, under the brand name 'Megha Gas' to domestic, commercial, industrial and automobile sectors.

The company already began its operations in Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh, and Tumkur and Belgaum districts in Karnataka.

It is also planning to launch operations in 13 districts in Telangana including Greater Hyderabad sub-urban areas.

Reddy said that Megha Gas has laid a pipeline of 1,200 kilometre in length and in future, it is planning to lay pipelines of about 5,000 kilometres in AP, Telangana and Karnataka.

Elaborating the plan, he said that in Telangana, Megha Gas planning to start its operations very soon in Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam, Warangal Urban, Warangal Rural, Jangoan, Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Mahabubabad, Medchal, Rangareddy, Vikarabad, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Yadadri Bhuvangiri districts.

With a view to developing Gas Grid Networks in AP & Telangana, MEIL has strategically secured onshore gas fields from ONGC in the regions of Nagayalanka and West Penugonda.

Gas evacuation from these fields will account to around 1,30,000 standard cubic metre (SCM) per day.

MEIL has opened 9 CNG stations in Krishna district with the total sale in excess of 4,50,000 SCM per month with additional five stations planned in the next three months with a potential of 3,00,000 SCM per month.

Megha Gas has a registered customer base of over 13,000 domestic consumers till date in the district.

It will add 2,000 domestic connections by end of this month in the district. At present, commercial sales crossed 60,000 SCM per month.

MEIL may add 10 more commercial connections with a potential of 1 lakh SCM per month in Krishna district.

On the business in Karnataka, Reddy said the response to piped natural gas for domestic, commercial and industrial customers is overwhelming in that State. Both the districts (Tumkur and Belgaum) have seen unexpected demand.

Currently, in Tumkur, Megha Gas has registered base of over 12,500 domestic connections and is expected to add 4,000 connections by next month. The demand from the commercial segment has crossed 1.4 lakh SCM per month and is expected to double soon.

In Belgaum district, the registered customer base has crossed 15,000 mark with over 2,500 domestic customers in the pipeline.

The commercial sales crossed 2.1 lakh SCM per month with a further potential of 3 lakh SCM per month in the near future.