A New Era of Energy Resilience: India's Largest LPG Storage Ready

India has achieved a major milestone in its energy infrastructure with the completion of the country’s largest underground liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage cavern in Mangaluru, Karnataka. Developed by Megha Engineering, the state-of-the-art facility has a storage capacity of 80,000 tonnes and is designed to bolster national energy security, particularly during supply disruptions and emergencies.

Approved in 2018 and constructed between 2019 and 2024 at a cost of ₹800 crore, the cavern lies 500 meters beneath the surface, carved into solid rock. It successfully passed a rigorous Cavern Acceptance Test (CAT) conducted between May 9 and June 6, confirming its operational safety and structural integrity.

This facility is the first in India dedicated solely to LPG storage, surpassing the 60,000-tonne capacity of Visakhapatnam’s existing cavern. It complements Mangaluru’s growing network of strategic energy reserves, which includes crude oil storage at Permude (1.5 lakh tonnes) and Padur (2.5 lakh tonnes).

Additionally, the project is supported by a newly developed pipeline network linked to a floating jetty, enabling efficient and seamless transfer of LPG. According to company officials, the initiative significantly enhances India’s energy supply chain resilience and positions Mangaluru as a vital hub for strategic energy storage.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.