By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday inaugurated& dedicated to the Nation MNGL’s 5 stations through Video Conference, which takes the company’s CNG stations to one hundred. The Minister also inaugurated the commencement of civil work at LNG/CNG station at Pathardi, Nashik, Maharashtra, CNG supply to buses in Nashik, and CNG distribution through award of Mobile refuelling Unit (MRU) at Pune.
Speaking on the occasion, Pradhan said that India is 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 COPE-21 climate change commitments. He said that greater use of natural gas will reduce dependence on fossil fuel and consequently reduce import bill and import dependence.Our energy transition roadmap will drive self-reliance and create large-scale employment, he added.
The Minister said that with today’s inauguration, MNGL has a network of 100 CNG stations. “With 5 stations added today we will almost reach the figure of 2500 station. But we have to keep pushing ourselves to reach the figure of 10,000 CNG stations in coming 7-8 years.”, he added. He said “I have been informed that while Maharashtra SRTC has place order for retrofitting of buses to CNG, Kerala SRTC is also finalising trial conversion for buses.MNGL has taken pioneering initiative of placing Mobile Refueling Unit (MRU) for the first time in the country.”
Pradhan said thatCGD sector has emerged as a major industry for natural gas consumption. The demand is only going to increase as more GAs become operational and consumption increases in domestic, transport, commercial and industrial sector of CGD networks.Pradhan said that foundation stone for India’s first 50 LNG Fuel stations spread across Golden Quadrilateral and all major National highways with co-existing LNG based CNG stations was laid recently. Government of India plans to invest Rs. 10,000 crores in the next three years in setting up 1,000 LNG Stations in India, he said.
The Minister said that the push on CNG/LNG infrastructure will bring investment in OEM sector, CGD equipment manufacture, transport sector and will lead to creation of employment and be a big step towards AatmaNirbhar Bharat.
The Secretary, Ministry of PNG, Tarun Kapoor, speaking on the occasion, said that the Government is providing full support for setting up of CNG/LNG stations, and he called upon the Companies to expedite their plants. He also called upon them to ensure that 2-3 CBG plants are soon connected to the gas network.
