GAIL to Direct Minority Stake of the Pipeline Business in an InvIT Prior to Splitting

GAIL, the leading natural gas entity of the country, has announced plans to launch an infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) for its two large-scale gas pipelines running between Dahej and Bengaluru prior to the upcoming split of its divisions. The two proposed pipelines for the InvIT sustains a total investment of over INR 30000 million.

To strengthen its financial holdings, the company is aiming to pioneer an InVIT ahead of the scheduled split. GAIL presently is thinking to sell near about 10-20 percent stake through the InvIT while still keeping the majority in its own hand.

GAIL, India’s largest natural gas marketing and trading company holds the Natural Gas pipeline network up to 12,502 kilometers. As per the revelation, the company is focusing on carving out its pipeline division from its gas-marketing function and directing it into an all-new subsidiary.

As there have been several complaints of a single entity with two job profiles, the decision has been to resolve the conflict and propel a smooth functioning of the complete organization. Post the split, GAIL’s primary business will include petrochemical production and natural gas marketing. However, it would have to hire capacities for any of its expansion or addition plans for the pipeline from its subsidiary post the payment to the new regulators.

As per ChemAnalyst, “GAIL’s plans of launching an InvIT is a smart move that can strengthen its finances with minimum risk of loss. Moreover, government’s strategic move of unbundling GAIL is expected to push the country to increase its gas utilization by 15 percent of the energy mix in the next 10 years.”