India’s domestic natural gas production increased by about 4% in the first half of 2023, with a significant rise in production from PSC/JVs fields, while the volume of LNG imports rose by approximately 12.7%, the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC) said in its ‘Ready Reckoner’ H1 edition.
The report, detailing the country’s energy statistics for the period of April-September 2023, showed that domestic gross production of natural gas reached 17879 MMSCM, up from 17184 MMSCM in the same period last year. This increase of around 695 MMSCM was primarily driven by an 18.4% growth in production from PSC/JVs fields. In contrast, natural gas production from ONGC nomination fields displayed a declining trend, dropping by about 3.2%.
On the import front, India witnessed a significant increase in LNG imports in volume terms, which escalated from 13680 MMSCM in April-September 2022 to 15416 MMSCM in the corresponding period of 2023. However, in monetary terms, LNG imports saw a decrease of about 31.2%, falling from US $9.43 billion to US $6.49 billion.
The report also highlighted the commencement of the Dhamra LNG terminal operations, which boosted India’s total LNG capacity to 47.7 MMTPA. Capacity utilization at these terminals varied significantly, with the Mundra LNG Terminal operating at approximately 12.5% capacity and the Dahej LNG terminal at about 94.31%.
In the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network, India now operates 6035 CNG stations across 283 areas, managed by around 57 CGD entities. Additionally, there are about 11,876,511 PNG connections in 216 areas, handled by nearly 50 CGD entities.
Sales in the CGD sector for the six-month period of April-September 2023 showed mixed trends. The CNG sector experienced an increase of around 6%, while there was a decrease of 9% in DPNG sales and 4% in the commercial sector. Industrial sector sales, however, increased by approximately 11%. Overall, the total six-monthly sales in the CGD sector also increased by about 6% compared to the last six months.
The PPAC report also emphasized the strategic importance of India’s natural gas pipeline infrastructure. The current pipeline network in the country is approximately 35,515 kilometers long, including various types of connectivity. The ongoing development of a National Gas Grid is expected to ensure the adequate availability and equitable distribution of natural gas across all regions of India, aiding in uniform economic and social progress.
