Guwahati: The Government has set a target to raise the share of natural gas in the energy mix to 15% in 2030 from about 6.3% now.

This information was revealed by Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Rameswar Teli in Parliament today.

The minister said to achieve the target, various initiatives have been taken which inter alia include the following:-

• Expansion of National Gas Grid to about 33,500 Km from current 21,715 Km.
• Expansion of City Gas Distribution (CGD) network
• Setting up of Liquefied Natural Gas Terminals.
• Allocation of domestic gas to Compressed Natural Gas (Transport) / Piped Natural Gas (Domestic) in no cut category.
• Allowing marketing and pricing freedom to gas produced from high pressure/high-temperature areas, deep water & ultra-deepwater, and from coal seams.
• Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiatives to promote Bio-CNG.

The minister said Providing Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections and establishing of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations is part of the development of the CGD network and the same is carried out by the entities authorized by Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).

He added that CNG Stations and PNG connections are being provided by authorized entities as per timelines prescribed by PNGRB from time to time. As on 31.05.2022, a total of 95.21 lakh PNG (Domestic) connections have been provided and 4531 CNG (Transport) stations have been established by the authorized entities.

"After completion of 11A city gas distribution (CGD) round, 295 Geographical Areas (GAs) have been authorized which inter alia covers 98% of India’s population and 88% of its GAs. As per Minimum Work Programme, CGD entities authorized upto 11A round, have to provide 12.33 crore PNG connections and establish 17,700 CNG stations by 2030 including in rural and urban areas" he said.