Chennai, Dec 19 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has demanded a “fair” share of natural gas from the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin in Andhra Pradesh for the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
“Unlike the northern states, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu do not have coal, oil or other such energy resources. Tamil Nadu has some lignite deposits,” said Achuthanandan in a message read out at a seminar on “KG Gas - Fair Share for South”.

“Thus, it is essential that we may obtain a fair share of natural gas produced from the Krishna-Godavari gas fields,” the message said.

Kerala State Industrial Development Corp executive director M.R. Karmachandran read out the message at the event, organised here by Industrial Economist magazine.

According to Achuthanandan, the country’s fourth liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal will come up in Kochi by early 2012 — after Dahej, Hazira (both in Gujarat) and Dhabol (Maharashtra).

He also argued that the industrial growth of Gujarat and Maharashtra was fuelled by natural gas produced at Bombay High and Bassein that is transmitted through the Hazira-Bijapur-Jagdishpur (HBJ) pipeline to LNG terminals in these two states.

Referring to the administered price of $2.62 to $3.2 per million British thermal unit (mBtu) for gas consumers along the HBJ pipeline, Achuthanandan said the regasified LNG from LNG terminals are supplied at around $4.6 to $5 per mBtu.

“This is only 30-40 percent of the cost of other liquid fuels like naphtha or fuel oil,” he said.