Posted On: 26 JUL 2021 2:16PM by PIB Delhi

As on 31.03.2021, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has authorized approximately 33,764 Km Natural Gas Pipeline Network across the country with the aim to create a national gas grid and increase the availability of natural gas across the country. The authorized Natural Gas pipeline entity is allowed to lay spurlines as per the provision of the regulations. Accordingly, 19,998 km of Natural Gas pipeline (including sub-transmission pipeline & tie in connectivity pipeline) are operational and 15,369 km are under various stages of construction. The existing and upcoming pipelines will form a basic National Gas Grid in the country. However, expansion of pipeline infrastructure is a continuous effort based on gas demand assessment of various regions.

Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) was launched on 1st October 2018 aiming to establish an ecosystem for production of Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) from various waste/ biomass sources in the country. SATAT has envisaged developing 5000 CBG plants with total CBG production capacity of 15 Million Metric TonnePer Annum (MMTPA).  Under SATAT, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, Gail (India) Limited and Indraprastha Gas Limited have invited Expression of interest (EoI) from potential entrepreneurs to procure CBG at an assured price. In response of EoI invited, Oil PSUs have issued 479 Letters of Intent (LoIs) till January 2020. At present, 2 CBG plants located at Pune and Kolhapur are operational and their produced CBG is being sold in Auto sector since September 2019

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved VGF for Jagdishpur-Haldia/Bokaro-Dhamra Natural Gas Pipeline (JHBDPL) Projects and North East Gas Grid (NEGG) project. CCEA in its meeting held on 21st September 2016 has approved 40% Capital Grant i.eRs 5,176 crore of the estimated capital cost of Rs 12,940 crore(including inflation and interest during construction) by GOI to GAIL(India) Limited for execution of Jagdishpur-Haldia/Bokaro-Dhamra Natural Gas Pipeline (JHBDPL) Projects. As on May, 2021, Government has released Rs. 4486.748 crore to GAIL under this scheme.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Rameswar Teli in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.