India logs steepest decline in gas production, consumption

India, the fourth largest energy consumer globally, recorded the largest volumetric decline in natural gas production and consumption last year, BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2014 said on Monday.

Natural gas production in the country fell a massive 16.3 per cent to 33.7 billion cubic metres (bcm) from 40.3 bcm in the previous year.

India, the world's 11th largest consumer of gas, saw consumption fall by 12.2 per cent to 51.4 bcm in 2013 from 58.8 bcm the previous year. On both counts, India "recorded the largest volumetric decline in the world", it said.

However, it recorded the second largest volumetric increase in coal consumption on record and accounted for 21 per cent of global growth.

While coal production was up 0.1 per cent at 228.8 million tons of oil equivalent, consumption soared 7.6 per cent to 324.3 million tonnes.