Natural Gas

Task force suggests measures to boost PNG penetration, reform CGD sector

Panel suggests policy and operational reforms to boost PNG connections, streamline LPG transition, and strengthen city gas distribution ecosystem amid energy disruptions

Task force suggests measures to boost PNG penetration, reform CGD sector

It has pitched for rolling out 60 lakh new PNG connections by June, states mandating PNG in all new buildings and reduction on Value Added Tax on PNG

Chhattisgarh approves urban gas distribution policy 2026 for PNG rollout

Chhattisgarh has approved a new urban gas policy to expand piped natural gas access, boost clean energy adoption, and strengthen city gas infrastructure across urban centres

Best of BS Opinion: India's FTA with New Zealand shows agile deal-making

From India's FTA strategy and Sun Pharma's global ambitions to LPG shortages, West Asia risks and Asean ties, here are the key insights from today's Opinion page

NSE sells 1% stake in Indian Gas Exchange to comply with regulatory norm

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has offloaded around 1 per cent stake in Indian Gas Exchange (IGX), the country's first online delivery-based trading platform for natural gas, to comply with regulatory requirements, sources said on Monday. The stake sale is part of NSE's effort to align with Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) norms, which mandate that no single entity holds more than 25 per cent in the exchange. IGX operates an electronic trading platform for natural gas, offering spot, forward and delivery-based contracts. Following the latest dilution, NSE's shareholding in IGX has come down to 25 per cent. Notably, the exchange had acquired a 26 per cent stake in IGX for over Rs 19 crore in March 2021 to become a co-promoter, after securing approvals from PNGRB. Earlier this month,NSE partnered with IGX to introduce exchange-traded derivatives based on domestic natural gas prices.As part of the collaboration, NSE will launch natural gas futures contracts linke

West Asia crisis: 527,000 PNG connections gasified since March, says govt

More than 42,000 PNG consumers have surrendered their liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections till April 23

Govt panel seeks excise duty removal on CNG, GST inclusion for gas boost

Government panel recommends removing excise duty on CNG and bringing natural gas under GST with full input tax credit to accelerate adoption amid energy supply concerns

PNGRB extends national PNG drive till June, boosts compliance measures

Regulator extends PNG drive till June 2026 to accelerate CGD rollout and meet rising demand amid LPG supply concerns and push for cleaner energy adoption

Govt extends piped gas drive; over 310,000 new connections added

India adds over 3.1 lakh PNG connections in March as government extends drive to boost adoption amid LPG supply concerns and expand gas network coverage

India ramps up PNG rollout, 270,000 new connections given in March

India added more than 3.1 lakh new piped natural gas (PNG) connections in March and another 2.7 lakh connections were issued as the government accelerated expansion of cleaner fuel networks amid supply disruptions following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. With the war in West Asia disrupting cooking gas LPG supplies, the government has been pushing for greater adoption of piped natural gas - considered more convenient than LPG cylinders for everyday use as gas is delivered through a pipeline directly to home without the botheration of booking refills. The war has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz - the shipping lane through which India got most of its LPG. While LPG supplies have been disrupted, half of the country's requirement of natural gas is produced locally and for the rest there are diversified sources. "During the month of March, more than 3.1 lakh connections including domestic, commercial, hostel, mess, canteen etc. have been gasified. In addition to above, more .

Unified pipeline tariff unchanged at ₹54/mmBtu for CNG, PNG users

PNGRB retains Zone 1 tariff for CNG and domestic PNG users while revising Zone 2 rates; earlier reduced unified tariff zones from three to two

Why the West Asia war may force countries to rely less on natural gas

The United States, as the world's biggest gas exporter, will almost certainly benefit from this upheaval, at least in the short term

West Asia conflict pushes India to rekindle old friendship with Russia

Delhi and Moscow are deepening their energy cooperation, with both sides agreeing to prepare for Russia to resume ​direct sales of LNG for the first time since the start of the Ukraine war

Govt orders strengthening of natural gas infra amid supply constraints

Iran conflict has disrupted shipping and gas supplies, including by the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which serves as aconduit for 40% of India's crude oil imports

'PNG supply to restaurants, eateries in Maharashtra increased by 20%'

The supply of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to commercial establishments in Maharashtra has been increased by 20 per cent, state Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has said, offering relief to restaurants and eateries. The government has decided to ease PNG distribution to businesses, the minister said on Sunday. "From March 23, until further notice, commercial PNG supply has been increased by 20 per cent," he added. With this, supply to the commercial sector will rise to 50 per cent. Restaurant and eateries were hit after the war in West Asia broke out, as it impacted the supply of commercial cooking gas. Several food joints have been forced to suspend operations due to the gas supply disruptions. The conflict involving US-Israel and Iran has led to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the main transit route for Gulf energy supplies. Bhujbal said the PNG distribution to commercial establishments, ever since the crisis hit, was initially raised to 20 per cent, followed by

India's gas utilities eye market share gains amid LPG shortage crisis

The push underscores the nation's struggles with liquefied petroleum gas, used in more than 330 million homes to cook meals, as well as in industries from steel to automobiles

Urea plants gets additional gas in spot auction; to operate at 80% capacity

Fertiliser companies have purchased additional natural gas from the spot market to ramp up urea production at their plants, which are operating well below capacity due to a fuel shortage amid the West Asia crisis, a senior government official said on Thursday. After the procurement of additional natural gas, urea plants are expected to operate at 78-80 per cent capacity compared to 62 per cent currently. India produced 306.67 lakh tonnes of urea in 2024-25 and imported 56.47 lakh tonnes of the nutrient to meet the domestic demand. The country has imported 98 lakh tonnes of urea in the first eleven months of this fiscal. Fertiliser plants in the country require about 52 million metric standard cubic metres per day (MMSCMD) of natural gas to operate at full capacity, but were receiving only around 32 MMSCMD, meeting barely 62 per cent of their requirement, resulting in a significant shortfall in urea output, the official told PTI. To address this, a spot auction was conducted by the

US will 'blow up' South Pars gas field if Iran attacks Qatar, warns Trump

US President Donald Trump said the US 'knew nothing' of Israel's strike on Iran's South Pars gas field and warned Washington would 'blow it up' if Iran targets Qatar's LNG facilities again

Govt stops LPG supply to PNG households as regulator pushes gas rollout

The government has barred households with piped cooking gas (called PNG) connections from retaining or obtaining subsidised domestic LPG connections, even as the sector regulator pushed city gas distributors to accelerate PNG rollout to ease pressure on cooking gas supplies amid global energy supply disruptions. In a notification issued on March 14, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas amended the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order, 2000, under the Essential Commodities Act, making it mandatory for consumers with PNG connections to surrender their domestic LPG connections. The amended order also prohibits government oil companies and their distributors from providing domestic LPG connections or refilling cylinders for consumers who already have a PNG supply. "No person having a piped natural gas (PNG) connection and also having a domestic LPG connection shall retain a domestic LPG connection, or take refills of domestic LPG cylinders from any

IGL asks commercial, industrial users to cap gas drawal at 80% of usage

Indraprastha Gas advises commercial and industrial users to limit gas drawal to 80 per cent of recent usage after the government regulated supply amid disruption in LNG shipments