In a major development, APM Terminals Pipavav has officially initiated operations for Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCS), strengthening its position in handling LPG imports in India. The ship, loaded with cargo from Ruwais, ADNOC Refinery Jetty, recently unloaded a substantial parcel of 21,907 MT in the port of Pipavav, serving key entities such as Bharat Petroleum EPS Corporation Ltd, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.

This milestone follows the successful first berth of the ship MT Jag Viraat earlier this month. As India's LPG imports are undergoing a significant transition to Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGC) from Medium Gas Carrier (MGC) vessels, the VLGC handling capacity at APM Terminals Pipavav is crucial. This progress allows oil marketing companies to optimize their LPG imports efficiently and safely, ensuring the stability of energy supply across the country.

With a length of 230 meters, MT Jag Viraat is a VLGC ship of the Great Eastern Shipping Company. In particular, the surge in demand for LPG, driven by Indian households using it as a preferred fuel for domestic use, underlines the need for such infrastructure improvements.

Girish Aggarwal, Managing Director at APM Terminals Pipavav, highlighted the many benefits of introducing VLGC-compliant berth facilities. "The introduction of the VLGC-compliant berth facility will help us bring in large vessels with larger plot sizes to achieve economies of scale," he stated. In addition, the LPG rakes that comply with the Dedicated Freight Corridor of APM Terminals Pipahavov facilitate the safe distribution of LPG cargo to remote areas via environmentally friendly train connections.

Aggarwal expressed the company's commitment to the growth of the energy sector in India through continued investment in infrastructure development. APM Terminals Pipavav had announced plans for a dedicated VLGC-compliant LPG berth in March 2023, with expected readiness by 2025.In cooperation with terminal partner Aegis Vopak Terminal Ltd., the expansion of the capacity of the LPG Terminal underlines the commitment of APM Terminals Pipaavov to advancing India's energy infrastructure.