Focus on more natural gas in India’s energy mix

New Delhi: The government plans to accelerate the use of piped natural gas (PNG), complementing renewables through gas-based power, and scaling opportunities in CBG, hydrogen, and LNG mobility.

Addressing the ASSOCHAM India Gas Infrastructure Conference, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) Secretary, Anjan Kumar Mishra, said: "With industry collaboration and policy support, we can raise the share of natural gas in India’s energy mix well beyond 15 per cent and make clean, affordable energy a reality for every household.”

Lauding the sector’s achievements in promoting the ease of doing business, including efforts to transition households from LPG to PNG, he noted the progress made in laying the groundwork in rural areas and stressed the importance of scaling access and boosting power generation through natural gas. A collective commitment is required to build a resilient, future-ready gas infrastructure, aligned with India’s vision for sustainable growth and carbon neutrality, he added.

Mishra said that over the past few years, the government has laid the foundation - authorising more than 300 geographical areas, advancing rural access, and fostering ease of doing business.

ASSOCHAM Task Force on Hydrocarbons Co-Chairman & Pipeline Infrastructure Limited MD Akhil Mehrotra emphasised the need for a faster rollout of city gas networks, supported by a robust "gas to power" strategy. He called for greater integration of renewables, expanded energy storage solutions, and a strong mobility ecosystem to drive adoption.