INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
transforming the country into a gas-based economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that the government would more than double
city gas networks to 400 districts, quadruple piped cooking gas connections to households to two crore, and set up 10,000 CNG dispensing
stations.Speaking at first of its kind foundation laying ceremony, marking the simultaneous beginning of city gas work in 129 districts of
18 states that were awarded in the recently-concluded bidding round, PM Modi said the push towards a gas-based economy, where the share of
environment-friendly fuel in the energy basket would be increased from 6.2 per cent to 15 per cent by 2030, would create lakhs of jobs, and
help meet the country's Climate Change Conference commitment of cutting emission intensity by 33-35 per cent.While pricing and marketing
freedom is protecting investments made in the new age natural gas sector, an independent transport operator and a trading exchange are being
developed to provide transparency in operations of pipelines and price discovery, he said.PM Modi laid the foundation stones through video
conferencing at 65 geographical areas, made up of 129 districts of 18 states, to mark the beginning of work for CNG supply to automobiles
and piped cooking gas to kitchens
He also launched the 10th round of bidding for award of city gas licenses in 124 new districts, which have been clubbed into 50 geographical
areas."This is an important step in developing infrastructure," he said, adding that once the 10th round is completed, natural gas as fuel
would cover 400 districts and 70 per cent of population.When the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA government came to power in 2014, only 66
districts were covered by city gas distribution (CGD) networks
"Today when I am speaking to you, city gas project work is on in 174 districts
kitchens has nearly doubled to little less than 50 lakh and this would rise to more than 2 crore by the time the CGD work in the cities
added today is completed, he said.The number of stations to dispense CNG, which is being pushed as a cheaper alternative to polluting petrol
and diesel as auto fuel, has increased to 1,470 in four years from 947 that was set in the previous 25 years, he said
He also said that this number would cross 10,000 in 10 years.Over Rs 22,000 crore is being spent on laying new pipelines that will transport
natural gas to unconnected eastern states of Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal, and further to the northeastern states, making available
environment-friendly fuel for industry and domestic use, he said.Natural gas consumption is slated to rise 2.5 times in the next decade
India consumed 142 million standard cubic meters per day of natural gas in the fiscal year 2017-18
The prime minister said the gas sector is an excellent example of his governance moto of reform, perform, transform
"Reforms taken by the government in last four years has improved the performance of the sector and is now entering the transformational
phase," he said.Gas infrastructure is being strengthened through a nationwide gas grid, city gas distribution projects and raising liquefied
natural gas (LNG) import capacity
"The interests of those investing in this sector are being protected
Domestic gas prices have been linked to global gas market and to increase domestic production, marketing and pricing freedom has been
given," he said.He also said the development of gas ecosystem provides immense possibilities for gas-based industry and creates lakhs of
jobs."At least 3 lakh youth will get employment in the (recently concluded) 9th round of bidding (for city gas licenses)," he said.Also, a
gas based-economy would have a positive impact on the environment, when automobiles would be run on CNG and industries would get
uninterrupted gas supplies, he said.PM Modi said that to promote clean energy, 5,000 compressed bio-gas plants would be set up in five years
to convert agricultural waste into bio-CNG
This would not only address the problem of agricultural residue but also increase farmers' income.Besides, 12 modern bio-refineries to
convert biomass into fuel are being set up at an investment of Rs 10,000 crore, he said, adding that blending of sugarcane-extracted ethanol
in petrol has jumped four times since 2014, and the target is to take the doping to around 10 per cent level from current 3-4 per cent.The
government is also targeting generation of 175 GW of electricity from renewable sources by 2022
Of this 100 GW would be solar energy, he said, adding that more than 28 lakh solar pumps would be distributed to farmers in the next four
years."All these efforts will help fulfill India's global commitment of reducing emission intensity by 33-35 per cent and producing minimum
40 per cent electricity from non-conventional sources by 2030," he said.Downstream regulator Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board
(PNGRB) had a few weeks back awarded licenses for 78 out of the 86 geographical areas put on offer in the 9th round of bidding.Of the
geographical areas awarded in the 9th round, PM Modi laid foundation stones for work in 65 geographical areas, made up of 129 districts,
while leaving out the ones in election-bound states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana due to the model code of conduct.
