Now, piped gas network for Amreli, Patan

Ahmedabad: Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has granted authorization to Gujarat

Gas Ltd (GGL) and Sabarmati Gas Ltd to develop City Gas Distribution (CGD) network in Amreli and Patan

districts respectively.

According to a recent PNGRB notification, state-run Gujarat Gas Ltd has been authorized to lay, build

and operate or expand CGD network covering an area of 7,477 sq km in Amreli, while Sabarmati Gas Ltd

will cover 5,846 sq. kms area under CGD network in Patan district.

Gujarat Gas and Sabarmati Gas had placed their bids for both Patan and Amreli districts. As part of the

6th round of CGD bidding, PNRGB had last year invited bids for 34 geographical areas (GA) across India.

In Gujarat, bids were invited for Amreli, Patan, Dahej, Banaskantha, Panchmahals and Ahmedabad and

Anand. In case of Ahmedabad and Anand, players were asked to bid for regions excluding already

authorized areas.

Gas distribution companies such as Gujarat Gas Ltd, Adani Gas Ltd, Sabarmati Gas Ltd, Gujarat State

Petronet Ltd, Unison Enviro Pvt Ltd, IRM Energy Pvt Ltd and a consortium led by Mahesh Resources Pvt

Ltd had submitted their bids for developing CGD networks in these eight areas.

Although authorization has been awarded for Amreli and Patan, sources close to the development

revealed that GGCL has reportedly won bids for total six out of eight areas for which bids were invited.

These include Ahmedabad (excluding already authorized area), Panchmahals, Anand, Dahej and Dahod

apart from Amreli.

"However, the PNGRB authorization for these areas is currently awaited," said a source. Post the

amalgamation of Gujarat Gas Company Ltd and GSPC Gas Company Ltd, GGL has become India's largest

city gas distribution company and has launched its operations in 19 areas including 16 in Gujarat.

Gujarat has the highest number of piped natural gas (PNG) consumers, which includes 14.30 lakh

domestic, 15,808 commercial and 3,913 industrial customers. Gujarat accounts for 47.70% of India's

total domestic consumers of piped gas.

Cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Surat and Gandhinagar among others already have CGD

networks. Last year, two companies were authorized to operate CGD networks in Kutch, Jamnagar and

Bhavnagar.

High penetration of gas pipeline networks, and consequent domestic and industrial demands are driving

growth of CGD networks in the state.

NGS INDIA