New Delhi: GAIL (India) Limited has commissioned the breakwater at the Dabhol LNG Terminal, enabling uninterrupted, year-round operations and marking a significant milestone with the berthing and unloading of its first LNG vessel, GAIL Bhuwan, on June 2, 2025.
The Dabhol LNG Terminal, located on the Maharashtra coastline, has a current regasification capacity of 5.0 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA). The facility, following the commissioning of the breakwater and receipt of statutory approvals, has now been designated as an all-weather port. This allows for safe and reliable LNG operations even during the southwest monsoon period, which has historically been a challenging time for marine logistics along India’s west coast.
The LNG vessel was received by GAIL Chairman and Managing Director Sandeep Kumar Gupta and Director (Marketing) Sanjay Kumar. The development is expected to improve capacity utilization and strengthen LNG vessel accessibility at the terminal.
The terminal plays a key role in India’s gas supply infrastructure, being connected to the Dabhol-Bangalore and Dabhol-Panvel cross-country pipelines. The breakwater structure at Dabhol is an island-type construction, distinct from land-connected designs, and is regarded as an advanced marine engineering undertaking. The project required extensive coordination among multiple stakeholders and adoption of customized technical solutions to overcome complex challenges.
Following the completion of the breakwater, GAIL plans to expand the Dabhol terminal’s capacity from 5.0 MMTPA to 6.3 MMTPA in the first phase over the next three years. Once operational, the expanded terminal is expected to handle up to 100 LNG cargoes per year.
GAIL stated that the successful commissioning and the planned capacity expansion align with its goal to enhance energy infrastructure and ensure greater reliability in India’s natural gas supply chain.