Lok Sabha Question No. 1287 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Import of Natural Gas
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY, SHOBHA KARANDLAJE, PRATHAP SIMHA, NISHIKANT  DUBEY, INNOCENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1287

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  JULY, 2017

## IMPORT OF NATURAL GAS

## 1287. SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY:

KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

SHRI NISHIKANT DUBEY:

SHRI INNOCENT:

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  quantum  of  natural  gas  imported  including  amount  spent  by  public/private  sector companies during the last three years and the current year, country/quantum/value-wise.
- (b) the quantum of natural gas produced as compared to demand in the country;
- (c) whether GAIL has proposed to fix uniform tariff for natural gas with a view to making PNG supply cheaper and if so, the details thereof alongwith action taken by the Government on the proposal of GAIL; and
- (d) whether the prices of natural gas are discriminatory for end users situated far from the source of gas and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to bring parity in the cost of gas across City Gas Distribution Networks in a State to ensure supply of gas at fixed price to them?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS

## (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a):  Liquefied  Natural  Gas  (LNG)  is  imported  under  Open  General  Licence  (OGL)  on  the terms  and  conditions  mutually  agreed  upon  between  the  buyers  and  sellers.  Individual companies have entered into long term mid/short term and spot agreement with various foreign players for importing natural gas into the country. As per information of PPAC, the quantum and value of imports of LNG during last three years and current year is given below:

|                         | Imports of LNG               | Imports of LNG                              | Imports of LNG   |
|-------------------------|------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|------------------|
| Year                    | Total LNG Imported (inMMSCM) | LNG imported by Private Companies (inMMSCM) | In Million USD   |
| 2014-15                 | 18536                        | 15064                                       | 9231             |
| 2015-16                 | 21309                        | 12755                                       | 6710             |
| 2016-17 *               | 24686                        | 15810                                       | 6089             |
| 2017-18 * (Apr-June'17) | 5887                         | 3911                                        | 1529             |

* Provisional

(b):  The quantum of natural gas produced as compared to demand during last three years and current year is given below:

| Year                    |   Production of Natural Gas InMMSCM | Demand of Natural Gas InMMSCM   |
|-------------------------|-------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 2014-15                 |                               33657 | 46955                           |
| 2015-16                 |                               32249 | 47849                           |
| 2016-17 *               |                               31897 | 50828                           |
| 2017-18 * (Apr-June'17) |                                8058 | 8221@                           |

@ data pertains to April-May 2017, * Provisional

(c) GAIL has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and also to Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) for determining a unified tariff for its inter-connected cross-country pipelines with a view to improve the utilisation of pipelines at rationalized tariffs. Under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) Act, 2006,  the  Regulatory  Board  determines  the  transportation  tariff  for  gas  pipelines.  The Government has forwarded the request of GAIL for inputs to PNGRB.

(d) The prices of gas may vary from city to city depending upon the basic cost of natural gas, transportation cost and local taxes and levies. The 100% requirement of City Gas Distribution (CGD) network for CNG (transport) and PNG (domestic) segments is met through domestic natural  gas  which  is  supplied  to  all  the  CGD  entities  at  uniform  base  price  as  determined under New Pricing Guidelines on Domestic Gas dated 25.10.2014.

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