Cabinet to consider splitting GAIL; pipeline biz not to be sold before ‘22

The Cabinet may by next month consider a proposal to hive off state-run gas utility GAIL (India) Ltd's pipeline business into a separate entity but its sale to a strategic investor may not happen before 2022, sources privy to the development said.

GAIL is India's biggest natural gas marketing and trading firm and owns more than two-thirds of the country's 16,234-km pipeline network, giving it a stranglehold on the market.

Users of natural gas have often complained about not getting access to GAIL's 11,551km pipeline network to transport their fuel.

Sources said to resolve the conflict arising out of the same entity owning the two jobs, bifurcating GAIL is being considered.

A proposal is likely to be moved before the Union Cabinet for transferring the pipeline business into a 100 per cent subsidiary, they said adding the proposal may be considered and approved by the Cabinet this month or latest by November.

After the Cabinet approval, a consultant will be appointed to transfer the pipeline business into a separate subsidiary. This would take 8-10 months to accomplish, they said. However, selling off the pipeline subsidiary to a strategic investor is not likely before 2022 as the thinking in the government is that the gas market will not be mature before that and state support would be needed for GAIL to accomplish building a national gas pipeline grid.

GAIL will continue to own the marketing business as also the stakes in liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals.

Previously, the government was considering transferring marketing business into a separate subsidiary for a selloff at a later date but now a hive off of pipeline business is being considered.