12-May-2022: GAIL awards contract to set up one of India’s largest PEM based Green Hydrogen project
In line with the National Hydrogen Mission, GAIL (India) Limited has awarded a contract to set up one of the largest Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Electrolyser in India. The project would be installed at GAIL’s Vijaipur Complex, in Guna District of Madhya Pradesh, and would be based on renewable power.
The Project has been designed to produce around 4.3 Metric Tons of Hydrogen per day (approx. 10 MW capacity) with a purity of about 99.999 Volume %. It is scheduled to be commissioned by November 2023. In line with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the project has been awarded to a vendor having domestic value addition of more than 50 per cent.
Earlier, in January this year, GAIL had commenced India’s first-of-its-kind project of mixing Hydrogen into Natural Gas system. Hydrogen blended Natural Gas is being supplied to one of GAIL’s Joint Venture (JV) company with HPCL- Avantika Gas Limited (AGL), which is a City Gas Distribution (CGD) company operating in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Till date, GAIL has been successful in blending upto 2% (v/v) hydrogen in natural gas in the CGD network.
1-Feb-2022: GAIL starts India’s maiden project of blending hydrogen into CGD network
Gas Authority of India Limited has commenced India’s first-of-its-kind project of mixing hydrogen into natural gas system at Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The hydrogen blended natural gas will be supplied to Avantika Gas Limited, one of GAIL’s Joint Venture (JV) Company with HPCL, operating in Indore.
In line with the National Hydrogen Mission, GAIL has started hydrogen blending as a pilot project to establish the techno-commercial feasibility of blending hydrogen in City Gas Distribution (CGD) network. This project marks the stepping stone of India’s journey towards hydrogen based and carbon neutral future.
GAIL started injection of grey hydrogen at City Gate Station (CGS), Indore. This grey hydrogen would subsequently be replaced by green hydrogen. GAIL has already obtained necessary regulatory permissions to commence the project. GAIL has also engaged domain experts to carry out the impact assessment of blending of hydrogen in natural gas.
GAIL has always been committed to the growth of a gas-based economy in India and to India’s vision of a greener and cleaner environment. As our country is moving forward with ambitious goal of achieving a carbon-neutral and self-reliant future, this project is a significant step in that direction.
It is expected that this pilot project would help in creation of a robust standard and regulatory framework in India to cover the aspects of injecting hydrogen into natural gas. This will pave the path for carrying out more similar projects in India.
30-Apr-2022: OIL signs MoU for Carbon sequestration and restoration of degraded forest land in Digboi
Oil India Limited signed an MoU with Digboi Forest Division, Assam Forest Department on 29th April 2022 for a project on Carbon Sequestration and Restoration of Degraded Forest Land in Upper Dihing Reserved Forest (west block) under Digboi Forest Division. The initiative has been undertaken under OIL’s CSR project Vasundhara.
The MoU was signed by Shri Pallab Barman, CGM-FHQ Affairs from OIL and Shri T C Ranjthram, DFO from Digboi Forest Division in the presence of Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Addl Chief Secretary, Government of Assam, Shri Prasanta Borkakoty, Resident Chief Executive, OIL and other officials from OIL and Govt of Assam. Under the project, reforestation and afforestation in 100 hectare of degraded forest area is planned to be undertaken through plantation of 2,50,000 saplings by March 2025. Apart from plantation, establishment of a Bambusetum and other activities to reduce dependency on the forest by providing alternate livelihood opportunities is also planned to be undertaken.
8-Apr-2022: OIL signs incubation agreement with Hydrogen Fuel related Start-up for promoting Hydrogen mobility solutions in Northeast
Oil India Limited (OIL) signed an Incubation Agreement with the Start-up Ohm Clean Tech Private Limited on yesterday for Design, Integration and Development of 9-M Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered e-Bus, and a Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) solution. The Start-up will be mentored and nurtured under the prestigious IIT-Guwahati.
Shri Sushil Ch. Mishra, CMD, Oil India Ltd. briefed that OIL is committed to the development of innovative & path breaking technologies in the field of clean energy. OIL has already initiated a pilot project for hydrogen generation and blending. It is now sponsoring this start-up venture in the complementary fields of hydrogen storage, transportation and mobility solutions. He expressed the hope that this would help in the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives of GoI and open the doors for a hydrogen economy in the Northeast.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Harish Madhav, Director Finance, Oil India Ltd. informed that OIL sponsors eligible Start-ups under its scheme “SNEH” (Start-up Nurturing, Enabling & Handholding). OIL is presently incubating six Start-ups from all over the country working on various hi-tech fields like robotics, instrumentation, biotech and fuel delivery solutions. He envisioned that with the successful completion of these two new collaborations in the hydrogen energy domain, OIL in synergy with the start-up, shall be successful in running a Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered e-Bus in northeast India within a short time.
Bhavna S. Mayur, Director Ohm Cleantech said that Ohm was excited to be part of ushering Green Energy to the Northeast and this was a unique opportunity to bring important hydrogen linked technologies like LOHC and Hydrogen bus to the market. With the faith that OIL has put on us, we will do our best to bring Atmanirbhar development to India.
10-Jun-2020: Statement about the Blowout in Gas Well of Oil India Limited at Baghjan, Tinsukia District, Assam
Oil India Ltd (OIL), a PSU, reported that while carrying out workover operations in the Gas Producing Well Baghjan-5 under Baghjan Oilfield in Tinsukia district of Assam, the well suddenly became active on 27 May, 2020and a blowout occurred. It led to uncontrolled flow of Gas from the well. OIL India sought support from ONGC, which immediately deployed their Crisis Management Team (CMT). OIL also mobilized a Singapore based firm M/s Alert Disaster Control.
The well was planned to be capped by following the advice of experts and taking all safety precautions. While the clearing operations were going on at the well site, the well caught fire on 9 June 2020 around noon time, spreading the fire in an area of about 200 meters around the well site. The cause of the fire has not been ascertained till now.
Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas along with Chief Minister of Assam reviewed the situation yesterday with the Oil India, ONGC, international experts and MoP&NG officials through video conferencing. Assam Chief Minister emphasized the need to allay the apprehensions of the people to loss of life and property. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan assured the Chief Minister that there will be full cooperation from MoPNG and OIL. The affected families will be given relief and compensation, as may be finalized with State Government.
Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Pradhan again held a review meeting through Video Conferencing today with the crisis management team located at site, officials of OIL India Ltd and Ministry officials. It has been reported that except at the well plinth area, the fire around the site has mostly extinguished. However, the burning of gas at the well mouth will continue till the well is capped.
The fire in around 200 meters periphery has completely burnt about 15 houses, while another 10-15 houses have been partially affected. It is also reported that two firemen of Oil India Ltd have died. Preliminary information indicates that three firemen, two from OIL India, and one from ONGC jumped in a water pool nearby. While ONGC fireman got injured, two OIL India firemen could not save themselves. Their bodies have been retrieved.
The debris of burnt rig, fire engines and other material around the well site will be removed before any operation can be started to cap the well. Arrangements of continuous water supply will have to be made before activities are undertaken at the site which is likely to take 5-6 days to make these arrangements, and all the operations will take about 4 weeks to complete.
Around one thousand six hundred families had already been evacuated from the nearby affected areas and are camped in relief camps set up at nearby safe areas. OIL has decided to provide an amount of Rs. 30,000/- (Rupees Thirty Thousand) to each of the affected families as an immediate relief.
The well is located in the vicinity of Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Maguri Motapung Beel, a wetland. OIL has engaged an accredited agency to carry out environment impact in and around Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Maguri Motapung Beel.
29-Apr-2022: Strategic Buyer approved for disinvestment of Pawan Hans Limited
The Alternative Mechanism, empowered by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, comprising Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs and Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, has approved the highest bid of M/s Star9 Mobility Private Ltd for sale of entire GoI’s shareholding (51% of shareholding) of Pawan Hans Limited (PHL) and transfer of management control.
PHL is a joint venture of GoI and ONGC providing helicopter and aero mobility services. GoI holds 51% of the shares in the company and ONGC holds the balance 49%. ONGC has earlier decided to offer its entire shareholding to the successful bidder identified in the GoI strategic disinvestment transaction, on the same price and terms as GoI.
CCEA had approved the strategic disinvestment of entire GoI stake in PHL in October, 2016. The transaction had been attempted thrice in the past. In the first round, the Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) was issued on 13 October 2017 seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI). Out of four EOIs received, only one was found eligible and the transaction was cancelled. In the second round, PIM was issued seeking EOIs on 14 April, 2018 and two bidders were found eligible and were issued the Request for Proposal (RFP). Finally, however, a single, incomplete bid non-compliant with the RFP was received. In the third round, PIM was issued seeking EOIs on 11 July 2019. Out of four EOIs received, only one was found eligible and the process was cancelled. This is the fourth iteration with request for Expressions of Interest (EoI) invited on 8 December 2020. Seven EoIs were received and four interested bidders were shortlisted as qualified bidders. After detailed due diligence, the qualified bidders were invited to submit financial bids. Three financial bids were received.
As per extant procedure, the Reserve Price for sale of 51% shareholding of PHL was fixed at Rs 199.92 crore, on the basis of valuation carried out by experts (transaction adviser and asset valuer). Thereafter, the three bids were opened in the presence of the bidders. All three bids were found to be valid. M/s Star9 Mobility Private Ltd, a consortium of M/s Big Charter Private Limited, M/s Maharaja Aviation Private Limited and M/s Almas Global Opportunity Fund SPC; emerged as the highest bidder quoting Rs 211.14 crore, which was above the Reserve Price. The other two bids were for Rs 181.05 crore and Rs 153.15 crore. Following due deliberations, the financial bid of M/s Star9 Mobility Private Limited has been accepted by the Government.
The strategic disinvestment transaction was implemented through an open, competitive bidding process supported by a multi-layered consultative decision making mechanism involving Inter Ministerial Group, Core Group of Secretaries on Disinvestment and the empowered Alternative Mechanism. The transaction now moves to the concluding stage. The next steps are issuing of the Letter of Award, signing of the Share Purchase Agreement and closing of the transaction.
PHL has been incurring losses in the last three years (FY-19, FY-20 and FY-21). The company has a fleet of 42 helicopters with 41 of them owned by the company. The owned helicopters have an average age of over 20 years and three-fourths of them are presently not being manufactured by the original equipment manufacturer. With this privatization, it is expected that the strategic buyer will revitalize the company by replacing the aging fleet through infusion of fresh capital and improve the performance of the company.