India Takes Huge Step to Double Domestic Gas Consumption

India is working to increase the share of gas in the country’s energy basket from the present 6.5% to 15% by 2019. 12.5 million domestic households will get clean cooking fuel.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — In what could be termed as the biggest ever step towards turning India into a gas based economy from its current reliance on coal, Narendra Modi's government has approved state funding for a 1,578 miles long gas pipeline in the east of the country.

India’s biggest pipeline project is estimated to cost $1.94 bln, of which 40% will be provided by the government.

"This will be the first time that government spending will be made for pipeline infrastructure. It is expected that this project would be completed in next 2-3 years,” said Dharmendra Pradhan, India’s Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas.

It is estimated that India would need an additional 10 million cubic meters a day of natural gas once the pipeline is completed by 2019. The gas distribution network will provide clean cooking fuel at the door step of 12.5 million domestic households alone. It will ensure the availability of natural gas to the industrial, commercial, domestic and transport sectors in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal.

India recently launched the #Gas4India campaign, aimed at promoting the use of gas in the country. India is working to increase the share of gas in the country’s energy basket from the present 6.5% to 15% by year 2019. India is building three new LNG terminals and has entered into long term contracts and acquired assets abroad to ensure the unhindered supply of gas at reasonable prices.