Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the “world’s first CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) terminal” and of brownfield port at Bhavnagar in Gujarat on September 29.
Key points
- This is a three-year-old project that is expected to infuse Rs 4,000 crore in developing the existing port infrastructure at Bhavnagar.
- The port will be developed at a cost of over ₹4000 crores and will have the state-of-the-art infrastructure for the world’s first CNG Terminal along with the world’s fourth largest lock gate system.
- In addition to the CNG Terminal, the port will also cater to the future needs and demands of various upcoming projects in the region.
- The port will have an ultra-modern Container Terminal, Multipurpose Terminal, and Liquid Terminal with direct door-step connectivity to the existing roadway and railway network.
- It will not only lead to economic benefits in terms of cost saving in handling cargo but also generate employment for people in the region.
- Also, the CNG Import Terminal will provide an additional alternate source of energy to meet the growing demands for clean energy.
- The idea for the project materialised during the January 2019 Vibrant Gujarat summit when a consortium of London-based Foresight Group, Mumbai-based Padmanabh Mafatlal Group and Rotterdam-based Boskalis signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) for development of the CNG terminal.
- The Bhavnagar port is in close vicinity to the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) and is expected to serve the industries that set up base in the region. It is already connected to the northern hinterland through a railway line that extends to the existing berths at the port.
What is CNG (Compressed Natural Gas)?
- Natural gas is an odorless, gaseous mixture of hydrocarbons—predominantly made up of methane (CH4).
- CNG is produced by compressing natural gas to less than 1% of its volume at standard atmospheric pressure.
- CNG is compressed to a pressure of 200 to 250 kg/cm2. In this compressed form, it occupies less than 1 per cent of its volume at atmospheric pressure.
- CNG differs from Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in its constituents. CNG is gaseous, consisting of about 80 to 90 per cent methane, whereas LPG is a liquid, consisting of a compressed mixture of propane and butane in liquid form.
- CNG is used in light-, medium-, and heavy-duty applications.
- A CNG-powered vehicle gets about the same fuel economy as a conventional gasoline vehicle on a GGE basis. One GGE equals about 5.66 pounds of CNG.
- Commonly referred to as the green fuel because of its lead and sulphur free character, CNG reduces harmful emissions.
- Being non-corrosive, it enhances the longevity of spark plugs. Due to the absence of any lead or benzene content in CNG, the lead fouling of spark plugs, and lead or benzene pollution are eliminated.
- The properties of CNG make it a safe fuel. It is stored in high gauge seamless cylinders which are certified so negligible chance of leakage.
- It is lighter than air, so in case of leak it just rises up and disperses into the atmosphere and mixes in the air easily and evenly.
- CNG is less likely to auto-ignite on hot surfaces, since it has a high auto-ignition temperature (540 degrees centigrade) and a narrow range (5%-15%) of in flammability.
- It means that if CNG concentration in the air is below 5% or above 15%, it will not burn. This high ignition temperature and limited flammability range makes accidental ignition or combustion very unlikely.
