OCTOBER, 20249State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is looking to set up mini-LNG plants to evacuate natural gas from wells in areas not connected to pipelines.The firm has identified five sites in Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Gujarat for setting up mini plants at wellhead that will convert the gas pumped out from under the ground into liquefied natural gas (LNG) by supercooling it to minus 160 degrees Celsius.This LNG will be loaded on cryogenic trucks and transported to the nearest pipeline, where it will be reconverted into its gaseous state and pumped into the network for supply to users like power plants, fertilizer units or city gas retailers.The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) is an Indian central public sector undertaking which is the largest government-owned oil and gas explorer and producer in the country. It accounts for around 70 percent of India's domestic production of crude oil and around 84 percent of natural gas. Headquartered in Delhi, ONGC is under the ownership of the Government of India and administration of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. India and the United States have signed a significant defense agreement worth 34,500 crore (approximately $4 billion) for the acquisition of 31 Predator drones for the Indian armed forces. The deal includes the establishment of a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in India for these drones manufactured by General Atomics.This procurement will enhance India's surveillance capabilities, especially along its contested border with China, and is part of India's ongoing efforts to strengthen its defense infrastructure. Of the 31 drones, 15 will be allocated to the Indian Navy, while the Indian Air Force and Indian Army will each receive eight drones. These long-range, armed drones will complement the two already leased by the Navy, enhancing its operational reach.The deal received final approval from India's Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) last week, just before the October 31 deadline set by the U.S. government. Vivek Lall, the CEO of General Atomics Global Corporation, who played a pivotal role in the negotiations, attended the signing ceremony.General Atomics has a partnership with Bharat Forge to produce UAV components in India and has committed to creating a global drone maintenance hub in the country. The company will also support India's indigenous combat drone development program, and the two nations are considering a technology transfer agreement for future collaboration. TOP STORIESONGC TO HARVEST NON-PIPELINE CONNECTED GASES VIA MINIATURE LNG PLANTSINDIA'S LATEST AGREEMENT WITH USA TO BOLSTER ARMED FORCES' CAPABILITIES
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