PNGRB to invite bids for two gas pipeline projects next month

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), would be inviting bids for the Surat-Paradip and Asansol-Howrah gas pipeline projects next week, a senior official said.

The Board would also grant authorisation for three more gas pipelines projects -- Mallavaran-Vijaipur-Bhilwada, Mehsana-Bhatinda and Bhatinda-Srinagar -- next month, PNGRB Chairman L Mansingh told reporters here today on the sidelines of the NGV India 2010 seminar.

During his initial remarks at the seminar, he said that non-availability of adequate gas and infrastructure is a major hurdle for use of compressed natural gas in vehicle.

"...In the current scenario, the growth in the vehicle population is explosive. This will contribute to incremental environmental pollution. To curtail this, there is a need for more availability of natural gas and the necessary infrastructure to supply it," Mansingh said.

On the City Gas Distribution (CGD), Mansingh said that the Board would also call bids for nearly seven to eight geographies after every 30-45-days.

"Currently, there are 16 geographical areas covered under the CGD network. We plan to expand this network by calling bids for around seven to eight geographical areas after every 30-45-days to set up CGD projects," Mansingh said, adding that many state governments are also showing keen interest in setting up CGD networks in their states.

Currently, there are seven lakh CNG vehicles in India.

"We want to double this number in the next two years. But the limitation is the non-availability of adequate infrastructure and gas. For this, the Government will have to take an initiative and give natural gas top-most priority," he said.