The much-awaited production of KG basin will begin to supply gas by 2012. This was said by the union petroleum secretary S Sundareshan.

And South India will be the receiver this time. The gas, which will be supplied through three gas pipelines, will be going to region by 2012.

This decision has been taken since the southern part of the country has more shortage of gas as compared to the northern and the western parts.

The first pipeline will be connecting Bangalore and Chennai and will be built by Gas Authority of India Ltd (Gail). Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) will take care of the one that would be built between Kakinada and Chennai and would be later on extended to Thoothukudi.

Both the companies have been asked to finish their within the timeframe.

Currently, the basin has the capacity of 60 million metric standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd) of gas. This is expected to go up by 3-4 years time because of newer discoveries.

The secretary also said that the government is trying hard to bring equitable pricing of gas.