NEW DELHI: Global energy market consultant ICF is to assess India’s natural gas demand and the infrastructure needed to tap latent demand as the backdrop of the government pushing to expand the clean-burning fuel’s share in the country’s energy basket and divest GAIL of its pipeline network by splitting the state-run gas transportation utility.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has ICF to study gas demand in different regions and the ideal locations for constructing terminals for importing gas in ships. The consultant will also examine the pipeline network needed to connect users with gas sources.
The share of natural gas in India’s energy basket stands at 6% against a global average of 24%. The government wants to raise it to 15% over the next decade. Low domestic gas production and inadequate infrastructure, particularly pipelines to wheel fuels to consumers, are blamed for the low share of gas in the country’s energy basket.
