Gas grid to be expanded to 27,000 km, pricing reforms in offing

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday laid down plans for expansion of national natural gas pipeline network to 27,000 km from the present 16,200 km and pricing reforms as the government looks at boosting use of environment friendly fuel.

The government has set a target of raising the share of natural gas in primary energy basket to 15 per cent by 2030 from current 6.2 per cent. Connecting gas sources to consumption hubs is a key to achieving this.

Presently, most of the gas pipelines are concentrated in the western and northern part of the country with a few lines in the east and south.

In her speech while presenting the Budget for 2020-21, Sitharaman said more gas pricing reforms are in the offing.