The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has flaoted tender for laying an 875 km-long natural gas pipeline between Ennore in Tamil Nadu and Barshi in Maharashtra.

The proposed pipeline will have a minimum capacity of 8 mmscmd, including common carrier space, and serve industrial, commercial and other customers falling along the route in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra, according to the PNGRB bid document.

Indian Oil has an LNG import terminal at Ennore, which is barely utilised due to a lack of connectivity with demand centres.

The bids must be submitted by April 16. Interested parties will have to offer a natural gas pipeline tariff bid for each year of the economic life of the project.

The successful bidder will need to lay, build, and operate the natural gas pipeline.