VINOD BHAT
Delhi, Dec 08:
Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is the authority to grant authorization to entities to lay, build, operate and expand Natural Gas Pipelines (NGPL). With the aim to increase the availability of natural gas across the Country, PNGRB has authorized approximately 34,233 km of NGPL network which include common carrier, spur line, tie-in connectivity and dedicated pipeline across the country to various entities, out of which 25,429 km have been made operational as on June 2025. 10,459 Kms length of pipelines is under various stages of construction.
The Government have taken various measures to implement ‘One Nation, One Gas Grid’ which, inter-alia, includes approving key trunk pipelines, providing viability gap funding in low-demand areas, introducing a unified tariff, accelerating expansion of CGD network, setting up of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Terminals, allowing marketing and pricing freedom with a ceiling price to gas produced from high pressure/high temperature areas, deep water & ultra-deep water and from coal seams, Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative to promote Bio-CNG, etc.
Government continually reviews and coordinates with the concerned State Governments and executing agencies to resolve the challenges and expedite the construction of National Gas Grid.
The expansion of gas pipeline networks offers enhanced access to clean, reliable and affordable energy, improving household convenience, reducing dependence on traditional fuels across rural areas, industrial clusters and City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks. In industrial areas, assured gas supply at competitive prices strengthens manufacturing competitiveness, attracts new investments, reduces operational costs and fosters job creation. Within CGD networks, the availability of CNG and PNG promotes cleaner mobility and domestic energy usage, leading to improved air quality and greater environmental sustainability.
