Govt aims to raise share of natural gas to 15% by 2030

New Delhi: In order to make India a gas-based economy the government has set a target of raising the share of natural gas in energy mix to 15 percent in 2030 from existing 6.7 percent. "PNGRB has authorized approximately 33,768 km length of Natural Gas Pipeline Network across India by the end of 2021. Out of this, 20,334 km length of natural gas pipelines including spur lines, are operational and a total of 15,194 km length of pipelines is under various stages of construction," Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameshwar Teli told Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

"The length of operational pipelines has increased from 16,368 kms on March 31, 2019 to 20,334 kms on December 31, 2021," the Minister said in a written response. With the aim to increase coverage of CGD networks in the country, Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has authorized 268 GAs for the development of CGD the network in the country, his response added. Further, Letters of Intent (LoI) have been issued for 21 GAs. Also, PNGRB has launched 11A CGD bidding round for the development of CGD networks in 6 GAs (covering 27 districts). After that, the CGD network shall potentially cover 98 percent population and 88 percent of geographical areas of the country.

The number of CNG stations established by various authorized entities has increased from 1,742 on March 31, 2019 to 3,878 on Januaury 31, 2022. The pipelines being laid by the CGD entities has also increased from 1,61,992 inch kms to 3,52,961 inch kms on Januaury 31, 2022.

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