Lok Sabha Question No. 3445 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-10
Subject: Demand and Supply of Natural Gas
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: GOKARAJU GANGA RAJU, KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN, PR. SENTHILNATHAN

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3445

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 th August, 2015

**Demand and Supply of Natural Gas**

3445.	DR. GOKARAJU GANGA RAJU:

SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN:

SHRI PR. SENTHIL NATHAN:

**isVªksfy;e ,oa izkd`frd xSl ea=h**

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

(a) whether the Government has fixed any target in respect of production of natural gas for the next three years;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken by the Government of meet the target;

(c) whether the Government has formulated any such scheme for encouraging the industries across the country to use the gas to curb pollution and revive the industrial production as well ; and

(d) if so, the details thereof along with any package being considered in this regard and the follow-up action taken by the Government?

**ANSWER**

**isVªksfy;e ,oa izkd`frd xSl ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h (Lora= izHkkj) (Jh /kesZUnz iz/kku)**

**MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (I/C) (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)**

1. & (b) The projection of natural gas production for  the next three years are as under:
| **Year**    |   **ONGC (BCM)** |   **OIL (BCM)** |   **Pvt/JVs (BCM)** |
|-------------|------------------|-----------------|---------------------|
| **2015-16** |            22.49 |           3.010 |                8.36 |
| **2016-17** |            26.48 |           3.101 |                9.31 |
| **2017-18** |            31.65 |           3.201 |               11.45 |

BCM: Billion Cubic Metre

In order to enhance gas production, Government has taken/is taking a number of initiatives.

**i.** Enhance production from the existing field by adopting Improved Oil Recovery (IOR)/Enhanced Oil   Recovery (EOR) measures using latest technology.

**ii** . Bring into production new discoveries at the earliest. For this a policy framework for early monetization of hydrocarbon discoveries under PSC regime has been approved by the Government.

This policy has addressed rigidities in the timelines of the PSC and has allowed the contractors to start   production at the earliest.

**iii.** Facilitate enhanced exploration activities through following measures:

- Appraisal of about 1.5 million sq km un-appraised area of the Indian Sedimentary Basins and acquisition of geo-scientific data under Multi client and non-exclusive policy.
- Re-assessment of Hydrocarbon Resources.

- Setting up of National Data Repository. Policy approved for exploration and exploitation of Shale Gas/Shale Oil resources by National oil Companies under the nomination regime.
- Government approved the Policy on Testing Requirements for Discoveries in NELP blocks on 29.04.2015.  The Policy would help in monetization of discoveries in five NELP blocks.

(c) & (d) Normally, the use of natural gas is as a substitute fuel in the industries.  Currently, in allocation of natural gas, Government has given priority to different sectors including Fertilizer & Power sector depending upon its availability. As far as encouraging the use of natural gas, it is to be decided by the industries based on the economies other competing fuels.

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