Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts gets GAIL gas for power generation

Bangalore, February 20: Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts (TKAP) became the first industrial unit in Karnataka to get natural gas to run its captive power generating plant when the state-owned Gas Authority of India (GAIL) formally commissioned the 1,000-km Dabhol-Bangalore gas pipeline project.

The first volume of gas arrived at Bidadi industrial estate near Bangalore on Monday from the recently opeartionalised liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Dabhol in Maharashtra. The gas supplied from the pipeline will support TKAP to run its 6.5 MW captive power generating plant.

TKAP, which is located in Bidadi industrial estate, is a joint venture among Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan, Toyota Industries Corporation, Japan and Kirloskar Systems, Bangalore.

TKAP operates two manufacturing plants at Bidadi for exports as well as for the domestic market. In the Export Oriented Unit, TKAP manufactures transmissions while its another unit manufactures front axles, rear axles and propeller shafts to supply to Innova vehicles manufactured at TKM’s car manufacturing facility located in the same Bidadi industrial estate.

Eventually the Rs 4,500 crore Dabhol-Bangalore gas pipeline will benefit industries, households, road transport, besides supporting power generation for Bangalore. The pipeline has a capacity to carry 16 million standard cubic metres of gas per day, promoting natural gas supplies to automobiles as well as piped cooking gas to households in the near future.

JAISHANKAR JAYARAMIAH