A major shift in LPG supply logistics is on the horizon for Meghalaya, with IndianOil projecting the commissioning of the State’s first LPG bottling plant by August this year, a development expected to significantly reduce delivery time and strengthen last-mile distribution in the region.
Amarjyoti Bordoloi, Chief General Manager, IndianOil AOD State Office, said they are expecting commissioning of first LPG bottling plant in Meghalaya by August this year, as it will be having atleast 22 loads of LPG supplied directly from Meghalaya to the state of Meghalaya.
Talking to media persons in Shillong, Bordoloi said, “The bottling LPG plant is in advance stage in Meghalaya. We have already started construction of LPG bottling plant in Ribhoi district in Umiam only which is right next to Shillong and Mechanical completion of the bottling plant is expected by June or July of this year itself and commissioning we are expecting one or two months after that. So maximum from July or August we will be having atleast 22 loads of LPG supplied directly from Meghalaya to the state of Meghalaya. The moment that comes in the ease of reaching that cylinders to the distributors will be only a matter of one hour.”
On supply dynamics in Garo Hills, he said the proximity of the region to Bongaigaon, where an existing bottling plant is located, continues to support distribution.
Highlighting the broader supply scenario, Bordoloi said, “As far as LPG is concerned we are importing around 60 to 70 percent of our requirement pan India basis. Naturally when the import vassals are not able to reach the country the measures are being taken as whatever is available and whatever is coming it can be optimally used. As far as North East is concerned, you are already aware that there are four refineries here. So LPG is also produced in the refineries and luckily for the North East as a whole, I cannot particularly identify Meghalaya here, we are able to produce about 60-70 percent of our requirements within the refineries available in North East. So in North East we are in a much better position and the current production level in the refineries of North East which are mostly located in Assam is about 1400 to 1500 Matric ton whereas our entire demand in North East is around 2700 matric tons per month. So we are for that particular area, almost 60 percent of our requirement is being fed by our local resource itself. Similarly, we have a supply chain where about 2200 LPG bullets are used in bringing products from supply sources like Haldia which is the import location and also some inland like Banka in Bihar and Durgapur in West Bengal. So that supply chain is also continuously coming.”
He further added, “If we really look at the entire North East requirement as of today, the stock in hand is already able to take care of about 5-6 days of requirement and if we add up the intransit stock, our requirement is made for 10-12 days. So it’s a continuous process. This we are able to maintain since the start of the crisis.”
Meghalaya set to get first LPG bottling plant by August, easing supply logistics: IndianOil
