New Delhi: Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, Dharmendra Pradhan said that City Gas Distribution (CDG) sector has emerged as a major area for natural gas consumption and demand is going to increase as more Geographical Areas (GA)s become operational.
While dedicating to the nation GAIL group’s 201 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations across the Country here on 8 June, 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 Refueling 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.
Mr.Pradhan 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.
Mr.Pradhan said that till now, CNG stations and Piped Natural Gas (PNG) were things belonging to metro cities and with the Government efforts these are now reaching cities and towns across the country.
He said country is committed to the cause of climate change mitigation and his efforts have given the world, leadership and enhanced India’s standing in the world.
Mr.Pradhan added that for us, bringing innovation in energy retailing is not only a business decision, but is also aligned to PM’s vision of a greener future.
Asserting that the future of fuel retail is mobile, he spoke about various measures to give boost to this ecosystem including setting up mobile refilling CNG facility.
He also outlined the benefits of mobile fuel retailing which includes cost advantage as well as advantage in terms of reaching out to consumers at shopping malls, offices and other places.
He also said that going forward, mobile battery swapping should also be explored. “We are bringing in innovation in energy retailing and making it mobile and delivering at the doorsteps”, Pradhan added.
Mr.Pradhan said that India has committed to achieve 15 Percent share of natural gas in the primary energy mix by 2030 for a more sustainable energy use which will help reduce environmental pollution, fulfill India’s commitment to COP-21. Greater use of natural gas will reduce dependence on fossil fuel and consequently reduce import bill and import dependence, he added.
Union Minister said that the 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 its 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.