Govt looks to boost use of natural gas for cooking, cars
The government aims to increase the use of natural gas, especially as kitchen fuel, by expanding the city gas distribution network, Union oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Tuesday .
Launching a campaign to spread awareness about the benefits of using natural gas as fuel, Pradhan sought cooperation from states and municipal bodies in setting up networks for piping the fuel to households. Pradhan held a meeting with senior officials and representatives from 20 cities to discuss ways to increase gas use, especially in the backdrop of the government’s smart city project.
Pradhan said gas had a 6.5% share in the country’s energy basket and the government was working on measures to raise this. He said GAIL had completed the tendering process for the national gas grid and laying of pipelines would begin soon.
The government is also going to take steps to harness gas trapped in layers of coal, called coal bed methane, and also promote the use of biogas to run vehicles and cooking.