The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 8, 2021
Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, Dharmendra Pradhan, today dedicated to the nation GAIL group’s 201 CNG stations across the country. The Minister also inaugurated the commencement of PNG supply in Jhansi and Mobile refuelling units for refuelling vehicles at Raigad.
Pradhan interacted with the PNG customer family in Jhansi who expressed their happiness about the unhindered and cheaper supply of PNG in the house. He also interacted with MRU operators in Raigad and Delhi and witnessed the filling of CNG in vehicle through MRU.
The MRUs inaugurated today belong to IGL and Mahanagar Gas Limited.
Speaking on the occasion, the PNG Minister said that India’s has committed to achieve 15% share of natural gas in the primary energy mix by 2030 for a more sustainable energy use. This will help reduce environmental pollution, fulfil commitment to COP-21 climate change commitments. Greater use of natural gas will reduce dependence on fossil fuel and consequently reduce import bill and import dependence.
Pradhan said that his Ministry is pushing for greater adoption and utilisation of cleaner and greener fuel including Hydrogen, CBG, ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) and LNG. He stated that IOCL is soon going to launch Hydrogen dispensing station at it refinery and Vadodara.
India has launched the E-100 pilot project for production and distribution of ethanol across the country and is committed to meeting its target of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol by 2025.
Pradhan said that CGD sector has emerged as a major sector for natural gas consumption. The demand is only going to increase as more GAs become operational. He expressed happiness that with the inauguration of 201 CNG stations today country will have about 3100 stations. He exhorted the CGD entities to keep working hard to reach 10,000 CNG stations and 5 crore PNG connections in coming 7-8 years.
He said that there is a need for conversion of diesel/petrol vehicles to CNG/LNG for ensuring lesser emissions and cleaner environment. In that direction, Mobile Refuelling Unit (MRU) will help achieve supply of CNG in areas not yet connected through pipelines or at places where there is scarcity of land parcels to set up conventional CNG stations. It can store up to 1,500 kg CNG and can fill 150 to 200 vehicles per day. He stressed upon the need to expedite commissioning of more MRUs in the Country to increase mobility of fuel availability through their deployment at various locations like housing societies, offices, etc.
The Union Minister emphasized that the aim of the government was to move towards the concept of energy retailer where all different transport fuels – Hydrogen, diesel, petrol, CNG/CBG, LNG or EV batteries swapping facility shall be available at a single point.
He said that the push on CNG/LNG infrastructure will enhance investment in OEM sector, CGD equipment manufacture, transport sector and will lead to creation of employment and be a big step towards AatmaNirbhar Bharat. Increasing usage of LNG in steel, transport and mining sector, inland waterways, etc. will also lead to reduction in dependence on crude oil and increase self-reliance in energy sector.
