Key facts
- Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma virtually inaugurated PNG and CNG projects in Mangaldai and Tezpur.
- The projects aim to provide clean natural gas to households, industries, and vehicles.
- Over 1,400 households in Tezpur are already covered by the PNG network.
- Patanjali Ayurveda Limited in Tezpur is a key industrial consumer of PNG.
- The initiative is part of a national effort to reduce LPG imports and enhance energy security.
- Assam has abundant natural gas reserves that can be better utilized with expanded pipeline infrastructure.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma virtually inaugurated several natural gas projects, including domestic piped natural gas (PNG) supply in Mangaldoi and industrial PNG supply to Patanjali Ayurveda Limited in Tezpur. The initiative also includes a CNG Mother Station at Uhani and a CNG Daughter Booster station at Goraimari, aimed at promoting cleaner fuel for vehicles.
The projects are expected to provide reliable, clean, and environmentally friendly natural gas connectivity to households, commercial establishments, and industries, thereby contributing to sustainable development and economic growth in the region. In Mangaldai, over 100 households have already received PNG connections, with about 30 families currently receiving regular supply. The PNG distribution network in Tezpur, operational since March, has already covered more than 1,400 households.
Patanjali Ayurveda Limited in Tezpur is a significant industrial consumer, currently using approximately 5,000 Standard Cubic Metres (SCM) of natural gas daily, with demand projected to increase to 6,000 SCM per day. This consumption is equivalent to the LPG usage of nearly 9,000 households.
Sarma highlighted the global energy challenges, particularly those arising from the conflict in the Middle East, and India's strategy to reduce its reliance on imported LPG. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged Indian refineries to enhance domestic LPG production and simultaneously promote PNG as an alternative. Following this vision, Indian refineries now produce about 60-65% of the country's LPG requirement domestically.
The Chief Minister emphasized that increasing PNG penetration would help reduce LPG imports and save valuable foreign exchange. He pointed out that Assam possesses abundant natural gas reserves, much of which remains underutilized due to inadequate pipeline infrastructure. Expanding PNG connectivity would enable the state to better utilize its own resources, leading to increased production, utilization, and higher royalty revenues for the state government.
Sarma expressed confidence that if gas distribution companies in Assam, including Assam Gas Company Limited, Adani Total Gas Limited, Purba Bharati Gas Private Limited, and North East Gas Distribution Company Limited, can provide PNG connections to 1 to 1.5 million consumers, it would result in substantial savings of LPG and significantly contribute to the nation's energy security. He urged these companies to accelerate their efforts to achieve this objective.