India's leading natural gas transmission company, GAIL (India) Limited has been adjudged the Oil and Gas Transportation Company of the Year, for the year 2006-07. Shri Murli Deora, Hon'ble Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas handed over the award to Dr. U. D. Choubey, Chairman and Managing Director, GAIL in Mumbai on March 21st. The award given by Petrofed carries a trophy and a citation.

GAIL owns and operates 6700 km. of natural gas transmission network. This is over 82% of the total pipeline infrastructure in the country. With this infrastructure created over the last two decades GAIL has developed a sustained gas market in the country. During the year 2006-07, GAIL handled around 28 BCM of Natural Gas through its Transmission Network and currently, its market share in gas transmission is 79%. The operating performance of the pipelines of GAIL has been excellent in 2006-07 and maintained 100% availability of natural gas pipeline systems. GAIL plans to increase pipeline infrastructure to 11000 km by 2011-12.

In addition, GAIL owns and operates world's longest exclusive LPG Pipeline Jamnagar-Loni pipeline (1269 km) and another one, Vizag-Secunderabad LPG pipeline (653 km).These pipelines have efficiently substituted rail/road transportation of LPG to a large extent in the respective areas and also resulted in reduction of emissions.

During the year 2006-07, GAIL added four new natural gas pipelines viz. Dahej – Uran Pipeline, Vijaipur - Kota Pipeline, Kelaras - Malanpur Pipeline, Jagoti - Pithampur Pipeline. In the current financial year, GAIL has completed Dahej - Dabhol pipeline project which has not only revived the Dabhol power project but also provided connectivity between key locations across Gujarat and Maharashtra. Besides, pipeline network has enabled introduction of CNG/City gas in cities like Delhi, Agra-Ferozabad, Mathura, Mumbai, etc. thereby reducing alarming pollution levels in these cities.

GAIL has successfully implemented a sophisticated, centralized Gas Management System (GMS) and is effectively using it for natural gas transportation through all Trunk Pipeline networks across India. GAIL is one of the leading public enterprises with a consistently excellent financial track record. Turnover and Net Profits during the last ten years has shown a compounded annual growth rate of 14 per cent. GAIL's Turnover in the year 2006-07 went up by 11 per cent to Rs. 16,047 crore.

GAIL recorded 121 per cent offtake over the minimum guaranteed quantity. There was no unscheduled shut down (excluding due to force-majeure events) during FY 2006-07. On the safety aspect, during FY 2006-07, there were no fatalities, with hardly any man hour loss. On the Environment and Occupational Health and Safety, there was full compliance of Prevention of Air Pollution Act, Prevention of Water Pollution Act, Environment Protection Act, Environment Protection Act and Factories Act.