Natural gas price may go up by 18% from April

The domestically produced natural gas price, which is expected to go up during April-September period, will still be lower than $4 a unit (gas is measured in million British thermal units). The increase will mean a spike in prices of piped cooking gas (LPG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) used as transportation fuel.

According to analysts, the next revision will push up the price by a maximum of 18 per cent from the current rate of $3.36 a unit. The domestically produced gas price is revised bi-annually based on a formula approved by the government.

Crisil Research feels that the next revision (for April-September) is expected to push up domesticgas price by 7-9 per cent to $3.62-3.67 per mBtu (million British thermal units). .