Sato says Indian gas distribution network to be one of core businesses in Asia
Osaka Gas Co Ltd and JOIN (Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport & Urban Development) are investing US$120 million in Singapore-based Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific International Holdings (AG&P) which is developing 12 city gas distribution networks, or concessions, in southern India and Rajasthan under AG&P Pratham.
The new equity will be used to continue to execute AG&P City Gas’s build-out of its 12 exclusive concessions in South India and Rajasthan, said AG&P which is expanding network every day to reach millions of people with clean fuel, including compressed natural gas (CNG) for their vehicles and piped natural gas (PNG) in their homes as well as provide fuel for large and small industrial and commercial customers.
“We are the first Japanese company to invest in the city gas sector in India through AG&P City Gas. It marks a milestone in a long-term relationship where AG&P and Osaka Gas have worked together to develop LNG infrastructure projects in South Asia and Southeast Asia, among others. We strongly believe that our investment in AG&P City Gas will provide Osaka Gas with a valuable asset,” said Katz Sato, Senior General Manager, Asia Energy Business Department for Osaka Gas.
“We look forward to developing it into one of our core businesses in Asia. With exclusive rights for a vast swath of southern India, roughly equivalent to three-quarters of the area of Japan, these 12 concessions are expected to generate over time a demand of 3.5 billion cu m in gas sales volume, or approximately 50% of Osaka Gas’ recorded gas sales volume last year on a non-consolidated basis. We are very privileged to work with our long-time partner AG&P and make this clean energy available quickly and safely to the citizens of India who live in these areas,” Sato said in a release on 20 Dec 2021.
“We, alongside Osaka Gas, are excited to participate in the future of AG&P and to expedite the roll-out of these vital gas network, LNG storage and transportation solutions being built in India by AG&P City Gas. Over the coming years, the AG&P City Gas network will continue to grow to serve millions of customers in their homes with clean, affordable, safe fuel while simultaneously continuing to build CNG stations for vehicles to transition and operate on clean fuel seamlessly,” said Toshiyuki Suzuki, Managing Executive Officer and Head of the Project Department for JOIN.
“The partnership with AG&P and Osaka Gas is also very important because it will help Japanese companies develop a strong cargo transport business using CNG vehicles in India, which will contribute to Japan’s priority policy of carbon neutrality and protect the health and lives of thousands of Indians,” he said.
“As an existing investor in AG&P’s parent, Osaka Gas has continued to demonstrate its support for AG&P’s downstream LNG and natural gas business. We are honored to welcome JOIN. The stability and strength of JOIN and the technical and commercial expertise of Osaka Gas and its long history in city gas will accelerate the smart deployment of our network across our concessions in India,” said Joseph Sigelman, Chairman and CEO of AG&P.
Sigelman continued, “Most importantly, this partnership comes at a time when natural gas is being recognized as the critical transition fuel that will have a profound impact on the reduction of carbon, NOX, SOX and particulates which not only contribute to climate change, but also to the ill health of thousands of Indians each year. We look forward to a network that can have such a major impact. We are truly humbled and very grateful to work with Osaka Gas and JOIN.”
Abhilesh Gupta, Managing Director of AG&P City Gas, commented, “AG&P City Gas enjoys a world-leading group of managers, investors and technical and commercial experts, bringing local knowledge of India and global experience born over decades.”
This is the second investment that AG&P City Gas has received in 4 months. In August 2021, AG&P City Gas received US$200 million from I Squared Capital, through its ISQ Global Infrastructure Fund III and ISQ Growth Markets Infrastructure Fund. Combined with the investment from the Osaka Gas and JOIN consortium, the total equity infusion available for AG&P City Gas is over US$300 million.
Osaka Gas is a leading energy company and the second largest gas supplier in Japan with a history going back more than one century. Founded in 1897 and in operation since 1905, the company serves around 5 million natural gas customers in the Kansai region, the most populated area in western Japan, including Osaka, where the company is headquartered. Its investment in AG&P’s projects in India is through Osaka Gas Singapore Pte Ltd.
JOIN, a Japanese government-private sponsored infrastructure investment fund company with a market cap of US$1.4 billion as of June 2021, was established in 2014 to support Japanese businesses developing infrastructure projects overseas. JOIN received approval from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan to invest in AG&P City Gas to support Osaka Gas’s ongoing collaboration with AG&P in expanding its overseas businesses.
Atlantic Gulf & Pacific (AG&P) develops LNG import and regasification facilities as well as downstream city gas networks. AG&P also provides engineering and project management services for LNG and other infrastructure. AG&P is part-owned by Osaka Gas, JBIC (the Japan Bank of International Cooperation) and Asiya, a publicly-traded Kuwait fund, as well as its management.
Operating under the brand of AG&P Pratham, AG&P City Gas is one of the largest private City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies in India. The company is developing CGD networks across 12 concessions in the Indian states of Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. fiinews.com
