India stands at a pivotal moment in its energy journey, with natural gas emerging as a key enabler of sustainable growth. Driven by rapid urbanisation, rising energy demand, and ambitious climate commitments, natural gas is set for strong and sustained growth across the country. Over recent years, India’s gas infrastructure has witnessed significant expansion – from enhanced pipeline connectivity and LNG regasification terminals to a steadily growing City Gas Distribution (CGD) network. These developments are unlocking new possibilities and charting the path toward a gas-based economy.
Natural gas consumption in India has now reached 200 million metric standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd), reflecting growing acceptance across industries, transportation, and households. The number of PNG connections has crossed 15 million, providing millions of Indian homes with cleaner and efficient energy access. Meanwhile, the LNG regasification capacity has expanded significantly to 52.7 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) with the addition of the Chhara LNG terminal, strengthening the country’s ability to meet its rising gas demand.
The operational carrier pipeline network has also seen remarkable growth, with its length now surpassing 24,000 kilometres, ensuring improved connectivity and distribution across the country. The number of CNG stations in India has crossed 8,000, empowering cleaner transportation solutions for millions of consumers. The government’s determined push to elevate the role of natural gas reflects its commitment to reducing carbon intensity while meeting the country’s surging energy needs.
LNG’s role as a fuel is also gaining momentum. The growth of the LNG retail network is underway, and small-scale LNG (SSLNG) solutions are being actively explored, offering flexible solutions for remote and industrial applications. This integrated push across infrastructure, distribution, and fuel use is setting the stage for natural gas to become a mainstream energy source in India’s evolving energy mix.
A critical component of this transformation is the emergence of gas trading. The Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) represents a significant step in the right direction toward establishing transparent market-driven price discovery mechanisms. Although a considerable portion of domestic gas pricing today remains regulated, efforts are well underway to promote market-linked pricing, encouraging competition and efficiency.
Keeping the relevance and importance of Gas Trading in view, in this issue of Gas Statistics Review, we present a comprehensive feature story titled “Gas Trading: India at a Crossroad of Opportunity and Challenge.” The article examines how rising trading volumes can unlock sectoral growth, boost investment, and drive efficiency in the natural gas market. At the same time, it highlights the structural and regulatory challenges that currently inhibit full market potential, from limited liquidity to pricing rigidities.
Looking globally, established gas hubs have played a transformative role in developing competitive natural gas markets. India’s journey toward a robust gas trading ecosystem is following a similar path, with IGX poised to become the nucleus of price discovery, transparency, and efficient supply-demand matching.
As the government continues its reforms and the industry rises to meet the challenge, natural gas is not just an energy source — it is a catalyst for India’s energy transition. The coming years will be critical in shaping the future of India’s gas sector, with immense opportunity for growth, innovation, and sustainable development.
As we approach the close of 2025, the Natural Gas Society (NGS) continues to work with dedication and resolve towards its core objectives—promotion, facilitation, and furtherance of the sustainable growth of natural gas in India. In the current energy landscape, natural gas is playing an increasingly pivotal role in supporting the country’s transition to a cleaner and more secure energy future. In alignment with this vision, NGS has continued to strengthen its efforts as a key enabler of dialogue, development, and collaboration across the natural gas value chain.
We are pleased to share that the visibility and recognition of NGS and its initiatives are steadily increasing. This growing presence is being reflected in the rising number of both our Organisational and Individual Members. With the recent enrolment of Pipeline Infrastructure Ltd. (PIL) and Engineers India Ltd. (EIL) as Associate Members and Teledyne Gas & Flame Detection as a non-voting member, our community now comprises 30 Organisational Members and 110 Individual Members. We express our sincere gratitude to all our members for joining us in this mission and for contributing to the vibrant and dynamic ecosystem that NGS is proud to be a part of.
During the period of July to September 2025, NGS organised and supported a wide range of activities aimed at enhancing industry knowledge, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement. A significant milestone during this quarter was the successful organisation of a customized Executive Development Program (EDP) on “Customer-Centric Mindset & Service Excellence” in association with the New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM). Held in Varanasi from 7th to 9th July 2025, the program achieved its objective of equipping City Gas Distribution professionals with the necessary skills and perspective to thrive in a customer-driven market. The program was marked by its blend of expert-led sessions, interactive learning, practical case studies, and cultural immersion, offering a well-rounded experience to the 27 delegates from seven organisations. The positive feedback and enthusiastic participation serve as encouragement for NGS to continue organising such value-adding programs.
NGS was proud to participate as a Knowledge Partner in several high-profile industry events during this period. At the Gas India Expo 2025, held from 24th to 26th July at India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, NGS set up a complimentary exhibition stall to showcase its work and interact with stakeholders. We also served as a Knowledge Partner at PROCON-2025, a national conference on procurement organised by Procurement Solutions Provider LLP on 17th and 18th July in
New Delhi.
The Society’s thought leadership was also reflected in the participation of our Executive Director, Shri D V Shastry, and Senior Consultants in key events. Shri Shastry was a panellist at the event on OT and IT Security organised by Alethe Labs on 25th July, while Shri V C Chittoda attended the 20th meeting of the Weights and Measures Sectional Committee (PGD 26) conducted by the Bureau of Indian Standards on 4th August 2025.
NGS was a Knowledge Partner for “India Gas-Tech 2025” organised by the Institute for Technological Excellence (ITEx) on 19th–20th August at Hotel Radisson Blu, Dwarka, New Delhi. Shri Shastry served as the Convener of the event, while Shri V C Chittoda and Shri Satish Geda chaired technical sessions, contributing valuable insights to the discourse.
One of the most strategic developments in recent months has been the Society’s proactive step towards strengthening cybersecurity in the natural gas sector. On 21st August 2025, a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) was signed between NGS and Veeam Software India Pvt. Ltd., a leader in data protection and ransomware recovery solutions. The MoI aims to promote cyber awareness, digital skilling, and employment enablement under the national vision of ‘Cyber Surakshit Saksham Bharat ’.
The signing ceremony in New Delhi was attended by several dignitaries and stakeholders, including Shri Praveer Agrawal, Executive Director (Training), GAIL (India) Ltd., who graced the occasion as a special invitee.
NGS continued to represent the sector’s voice in various policy and sustainability discussions. Shri Shastry participated as a panellist at the ESG Conclave on “Compliance to Sustainability” organised by the National CSR Network on 22nd August 2025 at SCOPE Complex, New Delhi. At the 4th India Energy Conclave & Exhibition held on 28–29 August at the SCOPE Convention Centre, he served on the Steering Committee and was a panellist in a key session on the role of natural gas and LNG in the energy transition. He also took part in a panel discussion on “Leak Detection and Gas Safety Management” at the 9th Sustainable Mobility Fuels Summit, held on 11th–12th September at The Shangri-La Eros, New Delhi, where NGS was an Association Partner.
Further contributions were made by ED, NGS as a speaker at the 6th Global Sustainability Summit organised by the MSME Chamber of Commerce & Industry on 18th–19th September at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. Most recently, NGS participated in the 9th LNG India Summit 2025 in New Delhi on 24th–25th September, where ED, NGS shared his insights as a panellist on the emerging Small-Scale LNG business. NGS was also associated with the summit as a Knowledge and Association Partner.
Adding to our international engagements, we are honoured to share that NGS has been invited by the Russian Gas Society (RGS) to participate in the 14th St. Petersburg International Gas Forum (SPIGF), one of the top five international congress and exhibition events in the oil and gas industry. Scheduled from 7th to 10th October 2025 in St. Petersburg, Russia, Shri D V Shastry, Executive Director, NGS, has been invited as a key speaker, addressing the topic of “The Role and Place of Non-Profit Industry Unions and Associations in the Development of the Oil and Gas Industry”.
The NGS is deeply grateful to all its member organisations and individual members for their steadfast support, which continues to enable the Society to deliver meaningful contributions to the natural gas transmission and CGD sectors. We remain committed to providing value to our members and to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to help shape a robust, secure, and sustainable energy future for India. We welcome suggestions and guidance from our members as we strive for continual improvement in all our endeavours.
On behalf of the Natural Gas Society, I extend warm greetings and best wishes for a joyful and prosperous Deepawali to you and your families.
Warm regards,
D V Shastry
Executive Director