Indian minister launches 200 CNG stations & new mobile refueling units
Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel Shri Dharmendra Pradhan has virtually opened GAIL group’s 201 CNG stations across 16 states in India. He also inaugurated the start of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) supply in Jhansi and launched mobile refueling units in Raigad and Delhi.
Pradhan said that till now, CNG stations and PNG were things belonging to metro cities and with the Government efforts these are now reaching cities and towns across the country. He highlighted that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is committed to the cause of climate change mitigation. “For us, bringing innovation in energy retailing is not only a business decision, but is also aligned to PM’s vision of a greener future,” he added.
Asserting that the future of fuel retail is mobile, he spoke about various measures to give boost to this ecosystem including setting up CNG mobile refueling units. He also outlined the benefits of mobile fuel retailing which includes cost advantage as well as advantage in terms of reaching out to consumers at shopping malls, offices and other places.
India has committed to achieve 15% share of natural gas in the primary energy mix by 2030 for a more sustainable energy use which will help reduce environmental pollution and fulfil India’s commitment to COP-21. Greater use of natural gas will reduce dependence on fossil fuel and consequently reduce import bill and import dependence, the official added.
Pradhan said that the ministry is pushing for greater adoption and utilization of cleaner and greener fuel including LNG, hydrogen, bio-CNG and EVs. He emphasized that the aim of the government was to move towards the concept of energy retailer where all different transport fuels shall be available at a single point.
He concluded that there is a need for conversion of diesel/petrol vehicles to CNG/LNG for ensuring lesser emissions and cleaner environment. In that direction, mobile refueling units will help achieve supply of CNG in areas not yet connected through pipelines or at places where there is scarcity of land parcels to set up conventional CNG stations.