Lok Sabha Question No. 4315 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-12
Subject: Transportation of LNG
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: NITYANAND RAI, SURESH KODIKUNNIL, M. B. RAJESH, (ADV.) JOICE GEORGE, KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4315

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2016

## TRANSPORTATION OF LNG

4315.

SHRI NITYANAND RAI:

SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

SHRI M.B. RAJESH:

ADV.JOICE GEORGE:

SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH:

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

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- (a)  the  details  of  programmes  being  undertaken  by  the  Government  to  promote  Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) based transportation in the country;
- (b)  the  details  of  the  schemes  being  implemented/proposed  to  be  implemented  by  the Government to enhance the availability of LNG distribution outlets in the country;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to introduce inter-State movement of CNG vehicles in the country and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to switch over/operates all types of commercial vehicles by CNG/LNG in the country; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  launched  a  pilot  programme  to  run  two  wheelers  on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) recently and if so, the salient features of the said programme along with the names of the cities where it is being introduced initially and steps being taken to implement the said programme throughout the country?

## ANSWER

पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्रािय में राज् य मंत्ररी (स् विंत्र प्राार ( श्ररी धमेन्द  र प्रधान

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a)  &  (b):  The  Ministry  of  Petroleum  &  Natural  Gas  (MoP&NG)  has  taken  an  initiative  to explore the possibility of using Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a transportation fuel in Road sector.  Petronet  LNG Limited (PLL) alongwith M/s Tata Motors and Indian Oil Corporation Limited have carried out a test run of an LNG fuelled bus on November 8, 2016 in Trivandrum (Kerala). The project is at pilot stage and commencement of its commercial operation depends upon requisite clearances.
- (c):    The  Inter-State  movement  of  CNG  vehicles  and  operation  of  commercial  vehicles  by CNG/LNG in the country is carried out by respective Transport Corporation or individuals as the case may be.  However, in order to facilitate the availability of CNG as transport fuel in the country,  the  Government  in  the  year  2007  has  established  the  Petroleum  &  Natural  Gas Regulatory  Board  (PNGRB)  under  the  PNGRB  Act,  2006  to  award  the  work  for  the development  of  City  Gas  Distribution  (CGD)  network  which  includes  PNG/CNG  network.

PNGRB  considers  Geographical  Areas/Districts  for  development  of  CGD  including  CNG network in a phased manner depending upon the availability of pipeline connectivity and gas sources.

- (d):  The  Government  has  launched  a  pilot  programme  to  run  two  wheelers  on  Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) recently in Delhi with its CGD Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL). The salient features of programme are as under:
- (i) The  type  approval  of  the  CNG  kit  in  two  wheelers  has  been  taken  from  Automotive Research  Association  of  India  (ARAI)  which  has  been  further  endorsed  by  Transport Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi.  The retrofitment in vehicles has been undertaken in a centre authorized by Transport Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi.
- (ii) The CNG kit for two wheelers comprises two CNG cylinders of 4.8 litre water capacity each which can be fitted with up to 1 kg of CNG in each cylinder.  These CNG retrofitted two wheelers can drive upto 120 kms in a single petrol run vehicle at the current level of prices as per the kit manufacturer/supplier.
- (iii) It estimates that the two wheelers with CNG kit will emit 25% less hydrocarbon than a petrol powered two wheelers.  It also claims a 20% reduction in carbon monoxide emission.

The performance of CNG retrofitted two wheelers is being closely monitored in terms of fuel efficiency, ride quality etc. during the pilot phase by all the stakeholders and the learning from this  project  would  be  used  to  develop  the  roadmap  for  introduction  of  CNG  in  two  wheeler segment across the nation.

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