Lok Sabha Question No. 251 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Gas Based Economy
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: MEENAKASHI LEKHI, R. VANAROJA, DEVUSINH JESINGBHAI CHAUHAN

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 251 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018 GAS BASED ECONOMY

## 251.    SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI: SHRIMATI VANAROJA R.: SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN:

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

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(a) the roadmap of the Government to become gas based economy and to move away from fossil fuels and to popularise the use of natural gas in power generations;

(b) whether 3000 mega watt gas based power capacity is lying idle/closed in the State of Gujarat due to non-availability of gas supply and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto along with the steps taken/being taken in this regard;

(c)  whether  various  State  Governments  including  Gujarat  have  requested  the  Government  to  either allocate Administered Price Mechanism gas or provide an incentive or allow such gas based capacity to run  on  gas  available  in  the  market  and  its  generation  be  purchased  by  Central  Public  Sector Undertakings and if so, the details thereof alongwith response of the Government thereto;

(d) whether Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) proposes to import about 13.5 million tonnes LNG in the next five years in view of growing demand for natural gas for transport and manufacturing and if so, the details thereoof; and

(e)  whether  IOCL  proposes  to  add  such  huge  capacity  through  its  own  upcoming  LNG  terminal  or proposes to purchase stake in other degasification plants and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री ( श्री धमेन्द र प्रधा

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a):    Government  is  taking  all  efforts  for  development  of  Gas  Based  Economy  in  the  country  which includes plans for expansion in natural gas supply with the help of additional Domestic Gas production, Expansion  of  Re-gasified  Liquefied  Natural  Gas  (RLNG)  terminals  in  East  and  West  coast  of  the country,  nationwide  natural  gas  grid  including  North  Eastern  States  and  policy  initiatives  for  the promotion of use of Natural gas i.e. clean fuel by all sectors of the economy including power sector.

(b):  Domestic natural gas is allocated as per the prevailing gas allocation policy depending upon the availability and balance demand is being met through the import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) which is imported under open general license on the terms and conditions mutually agreed upon between the buyers and sellers.

(c):  At present there is no such proposal under consideration to provide an incentive or allow such gas based capacity to run on gas available in the market and its generation be purchased by Central Public

Sector Undertakings.  However, gas based power plants are free to import the RLNG.

(d):  Indian Oil has plan to increase LNG procurement to approx. 13.5 MMTPA over a period of next five years. The same is planned to be achieved through a mix of Long Term contracts of Petronet LNG Limited (PLL) also and procurement of balance LNG on Spot/Short term basis.

(e):  Indian Oil at present has booked the Re-gas capacity in Petronet LNG Terminals located at Dahej and  Kochi.  Further,  Indian  Oil  through  its  Joint  Venture  Company  is  setting  up  a  5  MMTPA  LNG Terminal at Kamarajar Port (erstwhile Ennore Port) near Chennai.

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