Guwahati: Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL), in association with Resonance Energy, organised the Northeast Region Gas Conclave 2026 in Guwahati on Friday to discuss ways to strengthen the natural gas ecosystem across Northeast India. The conclave brought together policymakers, regulators, public sector energy companies, gas producers, pipeline operators, City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies and technology providers to explore opportunities for expanding natural gas availability, connectivity and adoption across the region.
Held at Vivanta, Guwahati, the event was centred on the theme “4As – Availability, Accessibility, Affordability and Acceptability of Natural Gas.” Discussions covered domestic gas production, liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, transmission and distribution infrastructure, pipeline safety, industry solutions and the expansion of natural gas markets.
IGGL Highlights Progress of Northeast Gas Grid
Delivering the welcome address, Subrata Das, CEO of IGGL, said the Northeast Gas Grid is expected to be completed soon. He emphasised that the successful development of pipeline infrastructure and the establishment of a gas-based economy in the region would require close collaboration and coordinated efforts among all stakeholders.
The inaugural session was attended by senior government officials and energy sector representatives, including:
- Jayanta Narayan Das: Member, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB)
- Dr. Arup Kumar Mishra: Chairman, Assam Pollution Control Board
- Sazzad Alam: Additional Secretary, Government of Assam
- Pranjal Changmai: Managing Director, Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL)
- Sachidananda Maharana: Director (Finance), Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL)
- Dilip Kumar Goswami: Executive Director, Oil India Limited (OIL), and Director on the IGGL Board
Vinod Seshan, Joint Secretary (Exploration), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Bhaskar Choudary Nettem, Chairman of IGGL, joined the inaugural session through video conferencing.
Read also: IGL Wins PNGRB Excellence Award 2026 for Overall Performance in City Gas Distribution
Conclave Focuses on the Four Pillars of Natural Gas
The conclave examined the complete natural gas value chain, from production and sourcing to transmission, distribution and end-use. Participants discussed the importance of connecting gas-producing areas with consumption centres, improving infrastructure utilisation and creating favourable conditions for industries and other consumers to adopt natural gas.
The discussions focused on four key areas:
- Availability: Strengthening domestic gas production and sourcing, alongside LNG imports.
- Accessibility: Expanding pipeline networks and distribution infrastructure to connect more consumers.
- Affordability: Promoting competitive pricing and improving the commercial viability of natural gas.
- Acceptability: Encouraging wider adoption among industries, businesses and other consumers.
Participants highlighted the interdependence of these four pillars in developing a sustainable natural gas market across Northeast India.
Technical Session Discusses Gas Accessibility, Distribution and Safety
A technical session on gas accessibility, transmission, distribution and safety brought together senior representatives from the City Gas Distribution sector.
The participants included:
- Gokul Swargiyari: Managing Director, Assam Gas Company Limited
- Ashu Singhal: CEO, GAIL Gas
- Sumitra Goswami: CEO, Arunachal Gas
- Ravi Kant Arya: Vice President, Indraprastha Gas Limited
- Anupam Mukhopadhyay: CEO, Bengal Gas
- V. S. Chakravorti: CEO, HPOIL Gas Private Limited
Dr. Rabi Narayan Bastia, CEO of OILMAX, delivered the special address.
The session focused on the role of transmission and distribution networks in extending natural gas access to more locations and consumers. Participants also highlighted the importance of:
- Developing reliable gas transmission and distribution infrastructure.
- Following safety standards across pipeline networks and gas distribution systems.
- Improving access to natural gas for industries and consumers.
- Supporting the growth of gas-based industries and consumer markets.
Exhibitors Forum Showcases Natural Gas Technologies and Solutions
The Exhibitors Forum provided a platform for companies and industry participants to showcase technologies, equipment and services supporting the natural gas sector.
Arindam Mitra, Assistant Vice President of Indian Gas Exchange (IGX), delivered the special address.
The forum facilitated interaction among manufacturers, technology providers and service organisations. Key areas of focus included:
- Showcasing technologies, equipment and services for the natural gas industry.
- Encouraging innovation and collaboration among industry participants.
- Sharing technical solutions to strengthen the gas sector ecosystem.
- Building partnerships to support infrastructure development and operational efficiency.
Technical Session Explores Gas Availability and Accessibility
The concluding technical session focused on gas availability and accessibility. Gyanendra Sharma, Head of Marketing at Petronet LNG Limited, delivered the special address.
The panel included:
- Manish Khandelwal: Chief General Manager, GAIL
- Bimlesh Kumar Singh: General Manager, ONGC, Jorhat
- Baroruchi Mishra: CEO, Hindustan Oil Exploration Company
The discussions explored the requirements for strengthening gas sourcing, improving connectivity and supporting the expansion of natural gas markets. Participants highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts across the upstream, midstream and downstream segments to improve natural gas availability and accessibility in the region.
Technical Poster Session Highlights Industry Innovation
A key highlight of the Northeast Region Gas Conclave 2026 was the Technical Poster Session, featuring participation from:
- Oil India Limited (OIL)
- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
- Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL)
- PBGPL
The posters presented technical insights and innovative approaches aligned with the four pillars of natural gas: Availability, Accessibility, Affordability and Acceptability. The session showcased industry perspectives on addressing technical and infrastructure-related challenges while supporting the development of a stronger regional gas ecosystem.
Northeast Gas Grid to Connect Eight Northeastern States
The Northeast Gas Grid is a major infrastructure initiative aimed at strengthening natural gas connectivity across the region and linking the northeastern states with the National Gas Grid.
IGGL was incorporated in 2018 as a joint venture of five public sector energy companies:
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)
- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
- GAIL (India) Limited
- Oil India Limited (OIL)
- Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL)
The company is implementing a pipeline network of approximately 1,670 km to connect all eight Northeastern states with the National Gas Grid:
- Assam
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Meghalaya
- Manipur
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Tripura
- Sikkim
A significant milestone was achieved on March 13, 2026, when Phase I of the project, covering approximately 553 km across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and dedicated to the nation.
The planned network is intended to:
- Connect potential gas sources with major consumption centres.
- Facilitate the development of new natural gas markets.
- Support industrial growth across the Northeast.
- Improve regional connectivity with the National Gas Grid.
- Encourage the adoption of cleaner energy.
Duliajan Feeder Line to Strengthen Regional Gas Connectivity
The Duliajan Feeder Line is another important component of IGGL’s regional natural gas infrastructure. Designed with a capacity of 3.5 MMSCMD (million standard cubic metres per day), the feeder line is intended to transport indigenous natural gas from Oil India Limited’s sources into the National Gas Grid through IGGL’s Northeast Gas Grid network.
The project is designed to support regional energy infrastructure through the following functions:
- Transporting domestically produced natural gas into the wider transmission network.
- Strengthening connectivity between gas production areas and the National Gas Grid.
- Supporting the integration of Northeast India with the country’s broader natural gas transmission system.
- Facilitating the movement of gas towards potential consumption centres.
Conclave Calls for Greater Coordination Across the Gas Sector
The Northeast Region Gas Conclave 2026 reaffirmed the importance of coordinated action among government institutions, regulators, energy companies and industry participants to strengthen natural gas infrastructure and expand market access in Northeast India.
The key takeaways from the conclave included:
- Strengthening natural gas availability through improved sourcing and supply.
- Expanding pipeline connectivity and distribution networks.
- Promoting competitive pricing to improve affordability.
- Maintaining robust infrastructure and safety standards.
- Encouraging collaboration and innovation across the natural gas value chain.
- Supporting industrial development and wider adoption of cleaner energy in the Northeast.
The conclave provided a platform for stakeholders across the upstream, midstream and downstream segments to exchange perspectives on the region’s energy potential and the infrastructure and market developments required to realise it.
About Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL)
Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL) is a joint venture of Indian Oil Corporation Limited, ONGC, GAIL (India) Limited, Oil India Limited and Numaligarh Refinery Limited. Incorporated in 2018, the company is implementing the Northeast Gas Grid to connect the eight Northeastern states with the National Gas Grid. Its infrastructure development efforts aim to improve natural gas connectivity, support industrial growth and facilitate wider access to cleaner energy across the region.
