By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas RameswarTeli on Wednesday informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that Government has been driving the initiative of setting upLiquified Natural Gas (LNG) stations across the Golden Quadrilateral National Highways, East-West Highway, North-South Highway and in major Mining clusters in India.
This initiative involving establishment of 50 LNG stations in the 1st phase, would help in establishment of LNG as a Transport fuel for increasing the share of natural gas in the total energy basket of the country besides providing environmental benefits to the society.
Union Government is taking steps for promotion of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) services in the country. The number of CNG stations in various States/UTs as on 31.03.2021 is at Annexure. Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is the authority to grant authorization to the entities for developing of City Gas Distribution (CGD) network includes CNG stations,in Geographical Areas (GAs) as per PNGRB Act, 2006.
PNGRB identifies GAs for authorizing the development of CGD network in synchronization with the development of natural gas pipeline connectivity and natural gas availability. As per Minimum Work Program assigned by PNGRB through competitive bidding the authorized entities will set up 8181 CNG stations across the country over a period of 8-10 years. Prices of CNG are market determined.
