India's Gas Pipeline Network to Double in Five Years: Oil Minister

India's gas pipeline network is expected to double to almost 30,000 km in the next five years as government plans to connect the eastern and southern parts of the country to the national gas grid, Indian oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan said November 30 at an event organised by Niti Aayog, country's apex planning body, in New Delhi.

Around 80% of total gas consumption takes place in northern and western parts of India. Pradhan said that east and south India will see increase in availability of gas as few terminals are expected to come up on the east coast in next few years. Currently, all terminals are located on the west coast. In eastern India, Gail has been given the responsibility to implement 2,539 km Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline, with the federal government making a budgetary support of 40%.

Commissioning this pipeline will lead to investment of about $8bn which includes revival of three large fertilizer units in the eastern region, industrialization of above 20 cities and city gas development in seven towns. Experts say that lack of adequate pipeline netwrok is the biggest challenge faced by Indian gas sector and if the government wants to increase the share of gas in overall energy mix, it will have to put special focus on expanding the pipeline network. 

Indian oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan (Credit: Indian go

Shardul Sharma