National Gas Grid

• 08 May 2019

Why is it in News?

The Government of India is constructing the National Gas Grid to increase the share of gas in the energy mix of the economy.

About National Gas Grid & its Significance:

• National Gas Grid will comprise the gas pipelines, regasified liquefied natural gas pipeline & city gas distribution network.
• The government has decided to increase the share of gas mix in the Indian economy by 15% (at present it is 6%) by 2025.
• The National Gas Grid together with providing gas connections to households will provide better infrastructure for automobiles using gas networks.
• The National Gas Grid will also aid in renewing of the fertilizer sector and also give a boost to the power sector which are gas based (eg.- Rajahmundry Power Plant of GMR group is not running due to non-availability of gas).
• Gas based combustion produces less particulate matters and polluting gases, so the National Grid Mission is a way towards sustainable development.
• The National Gas Grid Mission will complement the development of cross national pipelines like- TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) pipeline.
• The National Grid Mission is in line with the SDG goal no. 7 which deals with access to affordable energy for all.

Who is the Authorizing Agency of National Gas Grid?

Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is the authority to grant authorization for the National Gas Grid Mission.

What is the Current Status of the Project?

At present about 16,788 km of the natural gas pipeline is operational and about 14,239 km gas pipelines are being developed to increase the availability of natural gas across the country.

About TAPI Pipeline:

• TAPI pipeline was first proposed in 1995 with an aim to transport natural gas from energy rich Caspian Sea (Galkynysh gas field: fourth largest in the world) in Turkmenistan to India through Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• The project will supply both India and Pakistan about 38 mmscmd of natural gas whereas Afghanistan will get 14 mmscmd supply.
• Asian Development Bank is the lead sponsor of the TAPI Project.

Source: TH