ONGC shuts down Hazira complex as floods continue for third day

Mumbai: Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) has shut down its gas processing complex at Hazira as rains continued to flood the area for the third day. "Heavy rains in the catchment areas of the Tapi River had forced the company to go for an emergency shut-down," ONGC said in a release to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The shut-down followed an emergency assessment of the situation by a high-level team of the company.

"The floodwater has now started receding (5 to 6 ft since yesterday) and it is expected that by tomorrow, plant will be cleared of floodwater. However, some critical locations have water heights of three feet to six feet. The company is mobilising resources, manpower and expertise from other neighboring work centres", the release said.

The Hazira gas processing plant receives around 40.5 million standard cubic meters of gas per day from the company''s Bassein offshore field and the Panna, Mukta, Tapti (PMT) joint venture fields. The shut-down will involve a daily production loss of 1,650 tonnes of LPG, 3,350 tonnes of aromatic naphtha, 417 tonnes of superior kerosene oil and 48 tonnes of high-speed diesel.

The approximated loss of revenue is estimated at around Rs19 crore per day.