https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

India’s Natural Gas Demand to Surge Nearly 60% by 2030: PNGRB Study

India currently imports nearly half of its natural gas, a dependence that is likely to increase as domestic supply lags demand. LNG imports are projected to more than double by 2030, with a particular emphasis on its role in long-haul transport.
Indian Masterminds Stories

New Delhi: India’s natural gas consumption is projected to rise by almost 60% by 2030, driven primarily by rapid expansion in the city gas distribution (CGD) sector and increasing demand across transport, residential cooking, and industrial use, according to a new study released by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).

Under the study’s “Good-to-Go” scenario, which assumes moderate economic growth and steady policy advancement, India’s daily gas consumption is expected to grow from 188 million standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd) in 2023–24 to 297 mmscmd by 2030, and further to 496 mmscmd by 2040.

A more optimistic “Good-to-Best” scenario, incorporating accelerated development, policy support, and greater investments, projects consumption could reach 365 mmscmd by 2030 and 630 mmscmd by 2040.

CGD Sector to Drive Growth

The CGD sector – which supplies compressed natural gas (CNG) to vehicles and piped natural gas (PNG) to households and businesses—is expected to be the biggest driver of demand. Under the moderate scenario, the CGD sector will contribute 50 mmscmd of the incremental 110 mmscmd demand by 2030, and 129 mmscmd of the additional 198 mmscmd by 2040.

“The CGD sector is expected to be the primary growth driver, with consumption projected to grow 2.5 to 3.5 times by 2030 and 6 to 7 times by 2040,” the study noted.

India currently aims to increase the share of natural gas in its energy mix from 6–6.5% to 15% by 2030, as part of its commitment to cleaner energy and a net-zero emissions target by 2070. So far, the PNGRB has granted CGD licences across 307 geographical areas (GAs), extending the gas network to cover most of the country.

Rising Demand in Industrial Sectors

Beyond the CGD sector, refineries and petrochemicals are also set to increase gas usage, aided by greater emphasis on petrochemical integration. This sector is forecasted to add 21 mmscmd by 2030, and an additional 10 mmscmd by 2040.

While demand in power generation and fertilisers is expected to grow moderately, the transition toward low-emission energy solutions is likely to maintain gas as a vital component in these sectors.

Growing Reliance on LNG Imports

India currently imports nearly half of its natural gas, a dependence that is likely to increase as domestic supply lags demand. LNG imports are projected to more than double by 2030, with a particular emphasis on its role in long-haul transport.

“LNG as a long-haul transportation fuel could be a game changer,” the report said, highlighting the potential for LNG trucking to reduce diesel dependency – possibly mirroring China’s success in this domain.

As global LNG supplies expand, India may benefit from favorable long-term supply agreements at competitive prices, helping to stabilize import costs.

Challenges and Risks Remain

Despite the promising outlook, the PNGRB cautioned that realizing these projections hinges on sustained infrastructure development, conducive policy frameworks, and stable LNG pricing.

“Achieving India’s projected natural gas targets for 2030 and 2040 will require continued commitment… However, geopolitics, policy uncertainty, and gas price volatility cannot be ignored,” the report warned.

From 2015–16 to 2023–24, India’s natural gas consumption rose by 45%, from 131 to 188 mmscmd. While the power sector saw a marginal decline due to price sensitivity, CGD demand more than doubled with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12%. Fertilisers grew at 3.4% annually, and refineries by 1.8%.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Lamchonghoi Sweety (L S) Changsan
Sweety Changsan IAS Takes Charge of Revenue, Tribal Affairs & ASDMA in Assam
chandrachud1
SC Administration Asks Ex-CJI Chandrachud to Vacate Official Bungalow After Deadline Lapses
cji-br-gavai-supreme-court
CJI Changes 64-Year-Old Rule, OBCs to Get Reservation in Supreme Court Recruitment
Screenshot 2025-07-06 092240
Global Firefly Count Begins with India’s Lead: Conservation Policy in the Works - Details Inside
Raj DGP
Rajasthan: New DGP Rajeev Sharma Aims to Make Rajasthan a Model for Policing in India – Know His Future Plans for Policing in State
Leopard Threat on Kanwar Yatra
UP: Leopard Threat Looms Over Kanwar Yatra in Bijnor; Administration Steps Up Vigil with Drones and Patrolling
Ladli Behna Yojana Housing
Ladli Behna Yojana: 1.30 Crore Urban Beneficiaries to Receive Houses Alongside Financial Aid, Announces MP CM Mohan Yadav
Mohan Yadav
Rs 8,682 MSP for Moong: CM Dr Mohan Yadav Requests 40% Procurement Amid Surge in Cultivation
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-03 at 13.33
IRS Sanjay Bahadur: The Officer With a Pen That Bites | Video Interview
Inderjit Singh Air India
Is Air India Carrying The Burden of Split Before Privatisation?
Ex IRS C Rajendiran
Ex-IRS Officer C. Rajendiran Illuminates Thirukkural’s Timeless Wisdom in Exclusive Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS SHWETA BHARTI Bihar
From Wipro to Civil Services: How Bihar's IAS Shweta Bharti Juggled a BPSC Job While Preparing for UPSC
IAS Shweta Bharti, from rural Bihar, balanced a full-time job and UPSC prep with discipline, cracked...
IPS Deepak Meghani
Deepak Meghani, IPS: A Journey of Focus, Failure, and Quiet Discipline
A passionate writer, he has authored several books in Gujarati, ranging from exam strategy guides to...
Sanish Kumar Singh
“If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way,” Sanish Kumar Singh AIR 8, UPSC IFS 2024 
The real interview, he says, was much more humane. “The board was conversational. The chairman opened...
Social Media
PV Sindhu
PV Sindhu’s Visit to NADT Turns into a Wholesome Tribute to Legacy—and ‘Moolchandj
The Olympic champion shared nostalgic memories, met aspiring IRS officers, and sparked viral laughter...
Shailaja Chandra
“Nanis & Dadis Have a Brain”: Former IAS Officer Shailaja Chandra Weighs in on 1970s vs 2025 Life Debate - “This Generation Has It Better”
Responding to Viral Post on Middle-Class Struggles, Ex-Bureaucrat Offers Candid Reflection on Then and...
Tigress Arrowhead
The End of an Era: A Queen Falls - Ranthambore’s Iconic Tigress Arrowhead (T-84) Passes Away at 14, Hours After Daughter’s Relocation
Ranthambore mourns the loss of one of its fiercest and most beloved tigers, Arrowhead, the granddaughter...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-05 at 18.56
Where a Mine Once Lay, Minds Now Grow, Thanks to An IPS with A Vision
Lamchonghoi Sweety (L S) Changsan
Sweety Changsan IAS Takes Charge of Revenue, Tribal Affairs & ASDMA in Assam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-03 at 13.33
Inderjit Singh Air India
Ex IRS C Rajendiran
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT