PM to inaugurate key oil, gas sector projects in Tamil Nadu today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation of key projects of the oil and gas sector in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister will address the event at 4:30 pm via video conferencing.

An official release said Prime Minister will dedicate Ramanathapuram - Thoothukudi natural gas pipeline and Gasoline Desulphurisation Unit at Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited, Manali.He will also lay the foundation stone of the Cauvery Basin Refinery at Nagapattinam.The release said these projects will result in substantial socio-economic benefits and will boost the country's march towards 'Urja Aatmrbharta'.Governor and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas will also be present on the occasion.The Ramanathapuram-Thoothukudi section (143 km) of the Ennore- Thiruvallur- Bengaluru- Puducherry- Nagapattinam- Madurai- Tuticorin Natural Gas Pipeline has been laid at the cost of about Rs 700 crore.It will help utilise gas from ONGC gas fields and deliver natural gas as feedstock to industries and other commercial customers.The Gasoline Desulphurisation Unit at Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), Manali has been constructed at the cost of about Rs. 500 crore.It will produce low sulphur (less than 8 ppm) environment-friendly gasoline, help reduce emission and contribute towards a cleaner environment, the release said.The Cauvery Basin Refinery to be set up at Nagapattinam will have a capacity of 9 million metric tonnes per annum. It will be set up through a Joint Venture of IOCL and CPCL at an estimated project cost of Rs 31,500 crore.It will produce motor spirit and diesel meeting BS-VI specifications and polypropylene as a value-added product.

( With inputs from ANI )