India’s state-run refiners are set to fully commission the world’s longest liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) pipeline by June, a major development expected to reduce fuel transportation costs and enhance road safety. 

“This will be a game changer in the LPG supply chain,” N. Senthil Kumar, director of pipelines at Indian Oil Corp., said “It’s like putting LPG on a conveyor belt,” he added.

The $1.3 billion project is expected to replace hundreds of trucks that currently transport fuel across the country, reducing the risk of road accidents. 

Last month, a tanker overturned in Coimbatore, partially halting traffic in the southern city. In December, a truck collision involving an Indian Oil vehicle in Jaipur resulted in 20 deaths, 45 injuries, and damage to three dozen vehicles. 

Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum Corp., and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. have jointly formed IHB to develop the 2,800-kilometer pipeline, which stretches from Kandla on the west coast to Gorakhpur in northern India. 

According to the report, the first phase is scheduled for commissioning in March, with full operations expected by midyear, said Kumar, who also serves as chairman of the joint venture. 

The pipeline network will transport about 8.3 million tons of LPG annually, roughly 25% of India’s total demand. Currently, about 70% of the country’s bottling plants receive LPG via trucks, making the pipeline a cost-effective alternative. 

The project, first announced in 2019, has faced multiple delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine. Currently, India has an LPG pipeline network spanning nearly 5,000 kilometres.