Lok Sabha Question No. 321 (STARRED), answered on 2023-03-23
Subject: PNG Connections
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Queen Oja

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION No.*321

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 rd March, 2023

## PNG Connections

## *321. SHRIMATI  QUEEN OJA:

## पेोलयम और ाक ृ तक गैस मंी

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

- (a)  whether  the  use  of  Piped  Natural  Gas  (PNG)  for  domestic  use  is  increasing  in  the  country  in comparison to the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the use of PNG is very cost efficient as compared to LPG and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to distribute gas connection to each and every household; and
- (d)  whether the Government has fixed any time-frame to provide PNG connection to slum dwellers or people living below the poverty line, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## पेोलयम और ाक ृ तक गैस मंी ( ी हरदप संह पुर )

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO.  *321  ASKED  BY  SHRIMATI  QUEEN  OJA,  MP  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  23 rd MARCH, 2023.

- (a) Use of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) has been increasing in the country.  The details of Domestic PNG Connections vis-à-vis LPG active domestic figures for the last four years are as under:

| Year                  | Domestic PNG Connections (Nos.)   | %ge increase of PNG connection   | LPG domestic customers (Nos.)   | %ge increase of LPG customers   |
|-----------------------|-----------------------------------|----------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 2019-20               | 65,59,421                         | -                                | 27,87,00,000                    | -                               |
| 2020-21               | 78,20,387                         | 19.2%                            | 28,95,00,000                    | 3.8%                            |
| 2021-22               | 93,02,667                         | 18.9%                            | 30,53,00,000                    | 5.5%                            |
| 2022 -23 (P) Upto Feb | 1,05,62,564                       | 13.5%                            | 31,36,00,000                    | 2.7%                            |

Source: OIL PSUs, PNGRB & DGCIS.

## (b) Current Prices of PNG and LPG are listed below:

| Price as on 01.03.2023 (Delhi)   |    LPG |   PNG |
|----------------------------------|--------|-------|
| LPG per cylinder/ PNG per SCM    | 1103   | 53.59 |
| In Rs/Million Kcal               |   68.7 | 53.5  |

In terms of calorific value of different petroleum products, current prices and Rs/million calories, PNG is generally  cheaper  per  unit  of  energy  consumed  as  compared  to  LPG.    Depending  upon  local  prices, conversion factor of the cooking stove, etc., PNG provides a positive competitive advantage over LPG.

- (c) & (d) Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has authorized approximately 33,764 km length of Natural Gas Pipeline Network across the Country with the aim to create a national gas grid and increase the availability of natural gas across the Country. As on 31.12.2022, approximately 22,335 km pipeline is operational and 12,955 kms of pipeline is under construction.

Providing Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections to the households are part of development of City Gas Distribution  (CGD)  Network  and  the  same  is  carried  out  by  the  entities  authorized  by  PNGRB.  After completion of 11-A bidding round, 297 Geographical Areas (GAs) covering about 98% of the population, including slum dwellers and people living below the poverty line falling under these GAs, and 88% of total  geographical  area  of  the  country  spread  over  around  630  districts  in  28  States/UTs,    have  been authorized by PNGRB for development of CGD Network. The PNG (D) connections have increased from about 25 lakh in 2014 to about 65 lakh in 2020 and further to more than 1 crore in 2022. The total length of CGD network laid (both steel and MDPE ) rose from 1.38 lakh inch kms in 2018 to 3.74 lakh inch kms in March 2022 and further to 4.27 lakh inch kms in December 2022.

PNG connections are provided as per the Minimum Work Programme (MWP) mandated by PNGRB and techno-commercial feasibility.  As per the MWP, after completion of 11-A bidding round, CGD entities have to provide 12.33 crore PNG connections across the country by 2030.  As on 31.01.2023, 1.056 crore PNG connections have been provided by the CGD entities.

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