Gail to Complete 11 Projects by 2010

Gail Ltd plans to complete 11 of its exploration and production program in 2010.

These projects are:

1. Dahej to Vijaipur pipeline
2. Vijaipur to Dadri pipeline
3. Chainsa-Jhajjar-Bamnoli pipeline
4. Chainsa to Jhajjar spurline (Sultanpur-Neemrana)
5. Jhajjar to Hissar pipeline
6. Dadri to Bhawana pipeline
7. Bhawana to Nangal pipeline
8. Compressor stations at Jhabua (phase I & II)
9. Compressor stations at Vijaipur (phase-I & II)
10. Compressor stations at Kalaras
11. Compressor stations at Chainsa

Sources said that Gail expects to complete all these projects by October 2010.

The details of some of these projects are as under:

1. With the additional R-LNG supplied from Petronet LNG terminal at Dahej, Gujarat and other sources like Reliance, the capacity upgradation of the Dahej to Vijaipur pipeline project will meet the additional demand of customers en route the existing DVPL and GREP pipelines.
2. The Vijaipur to Dadri pipeline project, on completion will enhance the capacity of the GREP pipeline system.
3. The Chainsa-Jhajjar-Bamnoli pipeline will supply natural gas from various sources to consumers in Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi.
4. The Chainsa to Jhajjar spurline project will meet the gas demand of consumers in Haryana and Rajasthan, at various locations like Chopanki, Bhiwadi, Dharuhera, Khushkhera, Neemrana, Gurgaon, Khandsa, Manesar and Banmoli.
5. The Jhajjar to Hissar pipeline will supply natural gas or R-LNG will cater to Jhajjar and Hissar, again in Haryana. Feed to this pipeline will be made through the Chainsa to Jhajjar spurline which is connected to Vijaipur to Dadri at Chainsa near Faridabad.
6. The Dadri to Bhawana pipeline project will supply natural gas mainly to the PPCL-Bawana power plant to meet the power requirements of the NCR for the Commonwealth Games 2010.
7. The Bhawana to Nangal pipeline aims to supply R-LNG to Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
8. The compressor station at Jhabua will cater to gas demand at desired pressure to various customers en route Dadri-Bawana-Nangal and Chainsa-Jhajjar-Hissar pipeline systems and upgrade the DVPL pipeline system.
9. Similarly, the compressor stations at Vijaipur, Kailaras and Chainsa will meet the gas demand of customers of the 2 pipeline systems and also upgrade the GREP pipeline.

(Sourced from Project Monitor)

Recession Reports - Alcoa Outlines Severe Measures

Following are the actions announced by Alcoa Inc to address the economic downturn:

• Primary aluminum smelting cuts to reduce output by more than 750,000 tonnes per year, or 18% of annualized output.
• Alumina production to be cut to a total of 1.5 million tonnes per year.
• Total headcount cut by more than 13,500, or 13 percent of Alcoa's worldwide workforce, by the end of 2009. An additional 1,700 contractor positions will be eliminated.
• A global salary and hiring freeze.
• Procurement action to lower costs for energy, coke, caustic soda and aluminum fluoride.
• Initiatives to secure raw materials from alternate suppliers.
• Divesting four non-core downstream businesses: Electrical and Electronic Systems; Global Foil; Cast Auto Wheels; and Transportation Products Europe.
• Cutting capital expenditures in 2009 by half to USD 1.8 billion.
• Cost reductions in global primary metals and alumina operations, affecting approximately 2,600 employee and contractor positions.
• Restructuring and downsizing of Mill Products businesses in Europe and North America resulting in reduction of 900 positions.
• Elimination of 235 positions in the US and Europe in Alcoa's global hard alloy extrusion production operations.
• Realignment of Russian operations affecting 18% of workforce.
• Planned sale of Electrical and Electronic Systems will reduce positions across North America and Europe by 6,500.
• Exiting the auto cast wheel business and consolidation of the Beloit, Wisconsin facility employing 265 by June 1, 2009.
• Alignment of Power and Propulsion business has resulted in the layoff of 1,100 people.
• Elimination of 260 corporate staff and contractor positions.

Source Steelguru