AAI air cargo, logistics arm takes off
Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Tuesday launched an air cargo and logistics subsidiary, which is projected to rake in annual turnover of Rs 380 crore in two years. Announcing the launch of AAI Cargo and Logistics Allied Services Company Ltd (AAICLAS), Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that the country is now a step closer to becoming a world class destination in cargo and logistics services. Neera Rawat would be the Managing Director while B K Mehrotra would be the Chief Executive Officer of AAI Cargo and Logistics Allied Services Company Ltd. Raju said that making India a world class destination in cargo and logistics services is his dream. “With the launch of AAI Cargo and Logistics Allied Services Company Ltd today, we are a step closer,” he added. Participating at the launch ceremony, Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey said that AAI Cargo and Logistics Allied Services Company Ltd expects to have “an annual turnover of Rs 380 crore in two years time”. Airports Authority of India Chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra said that its cargo department has been de-merged and corporatised into a functionally & administratively independent organisation. Patrick Mahomes II Jersey
Safety of LPG consumers and the households is the prime concern while distributing new LPG connections
Government of India is committed to provide LPG as a clean cooking fuel across India through Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). More than 9 million new connections have been released to the women from BPL households in the last 6 months. Safety of LPG consumers and the households is the prime concern of the Government as well as the Oil Marketing Companies(OMCs) while distributing new LPG connections – whether under PMUY or otherwise. While issuing new connections to the beneficiaries, Safety/Insurance handouts with pictorial depictions have been given to them. A Safety briefing is also being imparted to the beneficiaries at the time of installation of LPG connection. In addition, Safety melas/ Safety Clinics are being organized in the villages to make the new consumers aware of the safety procedures. These efforts are being further stepped up to avoid any unfortunate incidents related to the use of LPG. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is also continuously monitoring the settlement of Insurance claims related to past LPG accidents and monthly meetings are being held with the Insurance Companies and OMCs on the subject. The pendency in this regard has come down from 51% in June 2016 to 33.76% in October 2016 and all efforts are being made to clear all pending cases in 3 months. Geoff Swaim Jersey
Operation of four fuel dispensers stopped
The legal metrology department has stopped operation of four fuel dispensers erected in four different petrol pumps in Kalamassery and Irumpanam. The department initiated action on Tuesday after finding irregularities in the volume of petrol supplied through these dispensers corresponding to the price. “It was found during the inspection that the volume of petrol supplied was less by an average 35ml corresponding to the price entered. This is a violation according to the legal metrology act, 2009. But not everyone might be intentionally manipulating the dispenser, sometimes technical issues might be the reason,” said R Ram Mohan, deputy controller of legal metrology, central zone, Ernakulam, who led the inspection. “The dispensers can be used in the petrol pumps once the irregularities are resolved and verified by the department officials,” he said. The inspection covered 52 petrol pumps in the central zone, which includes districts of Palakkad, Idukki and Thrissur apart from Ernakulam. “The petroleum dealers should renew the licenses of the fuel dispensers every year. However, the department conducts routine inspections so as to prevent any sort of irregularities,” Mohan said. Officials from legal metrology had conducted similar inspections few months back but did not find any irregularities then. Petrol pumps that did not exhibit the certificate issued by the legal metrology department were warned. “The certificate verifies that the dispenser machines in the petrol pumps are verified and found fully functional as per the guidelines of legal metrology Act. It is mandatory that every petrol pump should exhibit the certificate publicly. This is the right of customers,” he said. Manipulations in the volume of lubricants sold in the petrol pumps were also found by the department on Tuesday. “The glass tubes and containers used for measuring the volume of oil should also carry the certificate of the legal metrology department. Warnings were issued to the pumps that did not adhere to this guideline,” he said. Ron Francis Jersey
ONGC’s aggressive plan to explore more gas in Tripura
“Currently, four high-capacity rigs, including one hired from China, are in operation to drill new wells and three other rigs are also in operation to maintain production from existing wells,” he added. Agartala, Oct 26 : State-owned ONGC, by deploying a record number of rigs, including one from China, has embarked on an aggressive road-map to explore more natural gas in the northeastern state of Tripura, bordering Bangladesh. “We have undertaken an ambitious plan to explore more natural gas in Tripura. The state has vast reserves of natural gas,” Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Executive Director S.C. Soni told IANS. “Currently, four high-capacity rigs, including one hired from China, are in operation to drill new wells and three other rigs are also in operation to maintain production from existing wells,” he added. “From January (2017), the number of high-capacity rigs would be increased to eight from the existing four to further step up drilling operations in various parts of the state.” Soni, who had headed operations in Mumbai High, said ONGC is currently drilling 14 to 15 wells per year. With the deployment of the additional rigs, the number would go up to 20 to 22 a year. ONGC has so far drilled about 210 wells in Tripura, more than half of which are gas-bearing, Soni said. He said that a 110 million-tonne high-capacity rig valued at more than Rs 230 million was deployed last week in the Kunjaban field, near Agartala. Its 109-foot mast height is suitable for operations up to 5,000 metres depth and is equipped with the latest technology and all safety features. The company earlier this month hired the Chinese rig for Rs 0.95 million per day. The truck-mounted rig can drill up to 3,500 metres. “Additionally, being a mobile rig, precious time would be saved in moving it and its accessories from one location to the other,” Soni noted. “The ONGC board had earlier approved a plan to invest Rs 50.50 billion by 2022 to explore for more gas in Tripura,” said Soni, a technocrat who has vast experience in managing high-value projects. “Under this plan, new wells would be drilled and additional surface facilities would be created to increase gas production from 5.1 million standard cubic metres per day (MSCMD) to at least 6.25 MSCMD from Tripura’s gas fields, he said. ONGC has so far discovered 11 gas fields in the state, seven of which are in production, said Soni, who is also the asset manager of ONGC Tripura. Under the investment plan to produce and supply 6.25 MSCMD to various consumers, including production of electricity, for another 15 to 20 years, at least 153 wells are to be drilled, he said. “To enhance gas production, processing and supply capabilities, the GCS (Gas Collection Centre) in Sonamura, Gojalia and Konaban would be upgraded and around 900 km gas pipelines would be laid.” The company had earlier commissioned its first commercial power project in India, located in southern Tripura and run by ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC), formed by ONGC, the Tripura government and Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited (IL&FS). The 726 MW gas-based combined cycle power project (hydro and natural gas) is located at Palatana, 60 km from Tripura capital Agartala. “Electricity is being supplied to seven of the eight northeastern states from Palatana. Also 100 MW of power is being supplied to Bangladesh since March,” Soni said. “The generation capacity of the OTPC power project is likely to be increased to 1,090 MW in the near future. Work is going on in this direction,” a top OTPC engineer told IANS, on condition of anonymity. ONGC has also committed to supply gas to another state-owned company, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (Neepco), which set up a 100 MW power project at Monarchak, 70 km south of here. Besides, ONGC, which had started its operation in Tripura in 1972, has been supplying gas to various Tripura government and Neepco-owned power projects in the state. ONGC has also planned to set up a Rs 50 billion fertiliser plant in northern Tripura in association with the state government and Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd, a Rajasthan-based private company. Ryan Kalil Womens Jersey
Congress targets Modi over ‘plan to buy out GSPC’
Congress on Tuesday targeted prime minister Narendra Modi, saying he had asked petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan to plan an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation buyout of loss-making Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation. “Who took this decision for ONGC to buy GSPC? When most experts say there is very little chance to extract any gas from GSPC’s reserves. Why should ONGC then buy GSPC?” Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh asked. “Why should ONGC take on GSPC’s loans of Rs 200 billion for something that is valued at a mere Rs 30 billion?” he asked. He said the Centre’s proposal was against 600,000 small shareholders of ONGC and 200 foreign and Indian institutional investors. The leader said that in 2005, the then chief minister of Gujarat, Modi, had claimed that GSPC had found 20 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas in Krishna-Godavari basin. After 11 years, it turned out only 1 tcf, he said. But based on the claim, 15 public sector banks had loaned Rs 200 billion to GSPC, which was now unable to service the debt, he added. He cited comptroller and auditor general that GSPC wasted taxpayers’ money through suspicious transactions with dubious companies in India, Yemen, Egypt, Indonesia, among others. Ramesh linked Modi with a corporate group asking why the petroleum ministry had asked Indian Oil Corporation and GAIL to invest in Adani Group’s liquefied natural gas project in Dhamra (Odisha) set up last year. Isaiah Pead Authentic Jersey
ONGC’s aggressive plan to explore more gas in Tripura
“Currently, four high-capacity rigs, including one hired from China, are in operation to drill new wells and three other rigs are also in operation to maintain production from existing wells,” he added. Agartala, Oct 26 : State-owned ONGC, by deploying a record number of rigs, including one from China, has embarked on an aggressive road-map to explore more natural gas in the northeastern state of Tripura, bordering Bangladesh. “We have undertaken an ambitious plan to explore more natural gas in Tripura. The state has vast reserves of natural gas,” Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Executive Director S.C. Soni told IANS. “Currently, four high-capacity rigs, including one hired from China, are in operation to drill new wells and three other rigs are also in operation to maintain production from existing wells,” he added. “From January (2017), the number of high-capacity rigs would be increased to eight from the existing four to further step up drilling operations in various parts of the state.” Soni, who had headed operations in Mumbai High, said ONGC is currently drilling 14 to 15 wells per year. With the deployment of the additional rigs, the number would go up to 20 to 22 a year. ONGC has so far drilled about 210 wells in Tripura, more than half of which are gas-bearing, Soni said. He said that a 110 million-tonne high-capacity rig valued at more than Rs 230 million was deployed last week in the Kunjaban field, near Agartala. Its 109-foot mast height is suitable for operations up to 5,000 metres depth and is equipped with the latest technology and all safety features. The company earlier this month hired the Chinese rig for Rs 0.95 million per day. The truck-mounted rig can drill up to 3,500 metres. “Additionally, being a mobile rig, precious time would be saved in moving it and its accessories from one location to the other,” Soni noted. “The ONGC board had earlier approved a plan to invest Rs 50.50 billion by 2022 to explore for more gas in Tripura,” said Soni, a technocrat who has vast experience in managing high-value projects. “Under this plan, new wells would be drilled and additional surface facilities would be created to increase gas production from 5.1 million standard cubic metres per day (MSCMD) to at least 6.25 MSCMD from Tripura’s gas fields, he said. ONGC has so far discovered 11 gas fields in the state, seven of which are in production, said Soni, who is also the asset manager of ONGC Tripura. Under the investment plan to produce and supply 6.25 MSCMD to various consumers, including production of electricity, for another 15 to 20 years, at least 153 wells are to be drilled, he said. “To enhance gas production, processing and supply capabilities, the GCS (Gas Collection Centre) in Sonamura, Gojalia and Konaban would be upgraded and around 900 km gas pipelines would be laid.” The company had earlier commissioned its first commercial power project in India, located in southern Tripura and run by ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC), formed by ONGC, the Tripura government and Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited (IL&FS). The 726 MW gas-based combined cycle power project (hydro and natural gas) is located at Palatana, 60 km from Tripura capital Agartala. “Electricity is being supplied to seven of the eight northeastern states from Palatana. Also 100 MW of power is being supplied to Bangladesh since March,” Soni said. “The generation capacity of the OTPC power project is likely to be increased to 1,090 MW in the near future. Work is going on in this direction,” a top OTPC engineer told IANS, on condition of anonymity. ONGC has also committed to supply gas to another state-owned company, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (Neepco), which set up a 100 MW power project at Monarchak, 70 km south of here. Besides, ONGC, which had started its operation in Tripura in 1972, has been supplying gas to various Tripura government and Neepco-owned power projects in the state. ONGC has also planned to set up a Rs 50 billion fertiliser plant in northern Tripura in association with the state government and Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd, a Rajasthan-based private company. Eddie Goldman Jersey
MoEF comes out with norms for infra projects in forests
Recognizing the threats of linear infrastructure project such as roads and railway lines to wildlife, the union environment, forest and climate change ministry (MoEF&CC) has come out with detailed policy guidelines on putting inadequate safeguards while clearing these projects to facilitate wildlife movement and prevent their deaths. The guidelines come in the wake of severe criticism of the MoEF&CC for clearing infrastructure projects through wildlife habitats without due safeguards and the ministry is also hoping that standard wildlife safeguards for such projects will ensure speedy clearances. Infact, just a month ago it cleared a road widening project through the Kanha-Achanakmar tiger corridor in Chhattisgarh despite calls from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to reject it. Each year, several endangered wildlife species such as tigers, leopards, elephants and a range of other wildlife get killed as they try to cross highways and railway tracks that bisect wildlife habitats. Besides roads and railway, power transmission lines and canals also kill wildlife as they get electrocuted or drown. The draft policy guideline, ‘eco-friendly measures to mitigate impacts of linear infrastructure on wildlife’ has been prepared by the WII and the ministry has now sought public suggestions and objections on it. For the first time, standard recommendations and engineering solutions have been issued through the report, applicable to specific wildlife and habitats. For instance, it has said that for projects that pass through tiger landscapes, both underpasses and overpasses are potential engineering solutions for reducing the impact of these projects. “A minimum span of 30m with a height of 5m and width of 5-8m would work for most species in tiger landscapes,” the report has said. In the case of elephants, the report has recommended that elevating a road project on pillars is the best solution. If it is an underpass, it should have a height of at least 8m and width of 12m for smooth movement of the biggest land animal, the report added. Monkeys and squirrels can use canopy bridges that are built on railway tracks while pipe culverts are ideal for smaller mammals, reptiles and amphibians, the WII report said. The guidelines also highlight that infrastructure projects are a barrier for wildlife that restrict and prevent their movement. They disturb wildlife habitats and affect natural processes, which in turn may have long-term implications for wildlife such as genetic drift. According to the ministry report, National Highway-7 stretch between Maharashtra and Nagpur, that passes through Kanha-Pench wildlife corridor sees an average traffic volume of 452 vehicles/hour, comprising of all kinds of vehicles. As per the report, a death zone, where 375-600 cars pass per hour, only about 25% of the animals will be able to cross. In sections of the highway where more than 600 cars pass per hour, animals are largely repelled from crossing, preventing them from moving to newer habitats. The report has recommended that on sharp bends and high-speed networks where applying brakes is not possible, railway tracks should be be barricaded while giving access to elephants at other locations. Dna had reported earlier this month that more than 400 railway trains (passenger and goods) pass through the country’s sensitive wildlife habitats. Austin Blythe Jersey
NHAI to shake dust off three stalled road projects in State by floating fresh tenders
After taking over three stalled road projects in the State, including the Chennai-Tada Tollway road from private developers for various reasons, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) hopes to revive them by inviting fresh tenders for these works soon. According to National Highways Authority of India sources, work began on six laning the Chennai-Tada stretch (43.4 km), awarded to Larsen and Toubro Limited, in April 2009. The project was scheduled for completion by 2011. But due to land acquisition problems, the project remained incomplete and deemed a non-performing asset by the company last year. Thirty per cent work on widening NH-5 is pending due to delay in acquiring lands within Chennai metropolitan area. Similarly, work on the 93 km Poonamallee-Walajahpet (Essel Infrastructure limited), six-lane project, commenced in 2013 but stalled with less than 20 per cent work finished, primarily due to payment default issues. Officials of NHAI told Express that the take over of both the projects, which fall under phase V of National Highways Development Project of NHAI, was completed by May. As far as the 32 km Chennai Bypass toll road (MEP infrastructure developers) is concerned, National Highways Authority of India officials say although work has been completed entirely, disputes arose between the concessionaire and National Highways Authority of India on issues such as toll evasion and fee rule notification. “We have taken over the maintenance work of the Bypass road, but we will invite fresh tenders for it along with the other two projects, by early next year. The Poonamallee-Walajahpet road, with only less work done, will be treated as a new project,” the official said. Junior Seau Jersey
NTPC Group looks to top 50 GW installed capacity by March
State-owned NTPC Group is gearing up to cross the milestone of over 50,000 MW installed power generation capacity by March-end 2017 with expected addition of over 4,630 MW. “The NTPC Group, including its joint ventures and other subsidiaries, will have over 50,000 MW of installed power generation capacity by the end of this fiscal,” a senior power ministry official told PTI. The NTPC Group has an installed power generation capacity of 47,228 MW, which includes 800 MW of hydro and 360 MW of solar energy. The official said, “Even if there is some slippage in capacity addition, the NTPC Group as a whole will cross the milestone of 50,000 MW by March-end 2017.” The company is expected to commission 550 MW of solar power project at Mandsaur, Ananthapuram and Badhla. Besides, thermal power generation capacities at Kudgi (1600 MW), Bogaigaon (250 MW), Mauda (660 MW), Solapur (660 MW), Nabinagar (250 MW JV) and Meja (660 MW JV) are in line for commissioning by March-end next year. Various projects with an aggregate capacity of around 24,000 MW are under implementation at 23 locations across the country. This includes 4,050 MW being undertaken by joint ventures and subsidiary companies. Out of the total capacity under implementation, 1,329 MW is based on diversified sources of renewable energy. The company is quickly moving towards its ambition of achieving a solar portfolio of 10 GW out of the 100 GW target of the government by 2022. Over 1,700 MW renewable energy projects of the company are under execution. Chipper Jones Authentic Jersey
Power sector debt worth Rs 1.34 trillion at high risk: Crisil
Nearly Rs 1.34 lakh crore worth of debt on operational and under-construction power projects is at risk, says ratings agency Crisil. As per Crisil estimates, around 17,000 MW of operational power projects with a debt of Rs 70,000 crore and additional 24,000 MW under-construction projects with a debt exposure of around Rs 64,000 crore are at high risk. “These operational projects are those, which are facing the consequences of aggressive bidding for coal supplies or facing huge cost overruns, and those with gas-supply issues,” Crisil Senior Director Sudip Sural said. He said over the period, the credit growth to the sector will moderate to 5 per cent over the next three years as compared to an average of 18 per cent witnessed in the last five years. “This is primarily because the discoms debt which has been the key components of this exposure, is going to go out of the banking system over a period of time and move to the fold of the state government because of the UDAY scheme,” Sural said. Also, fresh investments in the thermal generation sector will remain muted, while on the other hand the capacity addition in the renewable space will give some fillip to the credit growth, he said. As far as delinquencies are concerned, Crisil noted, that while the gross NPAs in the sector have increased from 1.3 per cent to 4.4 per cent in financial year 2015-16, the stressed assets as measured by gross NPAs and restructured standard assets continue to remain steady at 14 per cent. “They have not seen an increase primarily on account of the movement of Rs 75,000 crore out of this category on the account of UDAY scheme. So, essentially on the restructured assets quantum have come down,” Sural said. “But even with the reduction it continued to be at elevated level in the sector,” he added. Crisil further observed that in the discoms space banking sector debt is expected to come down significantly over the next 3 years with UDAY scheme making increasing impact. “What we will see is that state governments will take over the principal financiers to discom. As per our estimates as of March 2019, of the roughly Rs 4.6 lakh crore exposure to discoms Rs 3.4 lakh crore would be coming in from state governments,” he noted. Art Monk Jersey