National Gas Grid Expansion Accelerated to Improve Energy Access Across India

**Executive Summary** The document is a press release from the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas discussing the acceleration of the National Gas Grid expansion to improve energy access across India. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is responsible for granting authorization to entities for natural gas pipeline construction. As of June 2025, 25,429 km of the NGPL network is operational. **Key Points / Main Content** * **PNGRB Authorization:** * PNGRB is the authority to grant authorization to entities to lay, build, operate, and expand Natural Gas Pipelines (NGPL). * PNGRB has authorized approximately 34,233 km of NGPL network across the country. * 25,429 km of the network is operational as of June 2025, with 10,459 km under construction. * **Government Initiatives:** * The government is implementing 'One Nation, One Gas Grid' through measures including approving key trunk pipelines. * These measures also include providing viability gap funding in low-demand areas, introducing a unified tariff, accelerating expansion of CGD network, setting up Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Terminals, allowing marketing and pricing freedom with a ceiling price to gas produced from high pressure/high temperature areas, deep water & ultra-deep water and from coal seams. * The Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative promotes Bio-CNG. * The Government continually reviews and coordinates with State Governments to expedite construction. * **Benefits of Expansion:** * Expansion enhances access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy. * It improves household convenience and reduces dependence on traditional fuels. * Assures gas supply at competitive prices, strengthens manufacturing competitiveness, attracts investments, and reduces operational costs. * CNG and PNG availability promotes cleaner mobility and domestic energy usage. **Impact Analysis** **State Governments and Executing Agencies** * **Impact:** Collaboration is necessary to resolve challenges and expedite the National Gas Grid's construction. * **Action Required:** Coordinate with the government to facilitate the timely completion of the National Gas Grid. **Industrial Clusters and City Gas Distribution (CGD) Networks** * **Impact:** Assured gas supply at competitive prices strengthens manufacturing competitiveness, attracts new investments, reduces operational costs and fosters job creation * **Action Required:** Leverage the availability of CNG and PNG to promote cleaner mobility and domestic energy usage. **Consumers** * **Impact:** Enhanced access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy, reduced dependence on traditional fuels across rural areas, improved household convenience, and cleaner mobility * **Action Required:** Transition to cleaner energy sources like CNG and PNG to promote greater environmental sustainability.

Key Entities Referenced