Paving the way for eco-friendly future, Govt promotes CNG & PNG

from NewsOnAIR by PBNS Thu Jul 22 2021 16:06:58 (2 days) # 195.

Government has taken a number of steps to promote and encourage the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) and (Piped
Natural Gas) PNG. The development of City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks supports the availability and accessibility of
natural gas in the form of PNG for residential areas and industrial uses and CNG for transportation usage.

About PNGRB

The Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is the authority to grant permission to the entities for developing
of CGD network in Geographical Areas (GAs) as per PNGRB Act, 2006. PNGRB identifies GAs for authorizing the expansion
of the CGD network in tandem with the development of natural gas pipeline connectivity and availability in the country.

Till now, the building of CGD networks has been permitted in 232 GAs spanning over 407 districts throughout 27
States/UTs, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. A tentative list of 44 identified GAs to be covered under the
upcoming 11th CGD bidding round has been developed which includes cities of Bihar, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh.

Guidelines for Sale of Biodiesel for Blending with High Speed Diesel for Transportation

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas published “Guidelines for Sale of Biodiesel for Blending with High Speed Diesel
for Transportation Purposes-2019.” According to the Notification, a proper registration system for biodiesel makers,
suppliers, and sellers would be created at the state/UT level to prevent the entry of unscrupulous biodiesel suppliers.

In 2016, PNGRB approved Green Gas Limited (GrGL) for the establishment of a CGD network in Lucknow GA. PNGRB also
authorised Torrent Gas Private Limited (TGPL) to develop the CGD network in Gonda and Barabanki districts under the 10th
CGD bidding round.

The PNGRB has yet to approve the building of a CGD network in Bihar’s Gopalganj and Darbhanga districts, as well as
Maharashtra’s Nanded, Hingoli, and Yavatmal districts. However, under the proposed 11th CGD bidding cycle, the districts of
Gopalganj, Darbhanga, and Hingoli have been included to the tentative list of GAs. In the future, the Maharashtra districts of
Nanded and Yavatmal would be covered for the establishment of a CGD network based on techno-commercial viability.

Rameswar Teli, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, provided this information in a written reply to the Lok
Sabha.

Other key achievements

India’s diesel-converted CNG Tractor: Recently, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari launched
India’s first diesel-converted CNG Tractor, one of the most important benefit for the farming community which will save
more than one lakh rupees annually on fuel costs, and will help farmers to improve their livelihood.

CNG as an alternative fuel

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is a substitute for petrol, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). In comparison to petrol,
diesel, and LPG, it is safer to use, cleaner to burn, and also produces less toxic by-products.

What is PNG?

Natural Gas distributed through a pipeline network that has safety mechanism to maintain the pressure, assuring safe and
uninterrupted supply to the domestic sector is known as PNG ( Piped Natural gas).

Advantages

Convenient: There are no difficulties with handling, refilling, or changing cylinders because gas is continuously delivered into
the system; no storage is necessary, resulting in safe, easy, and secure handling. PNG is delivered to customers’ locations via
pipelines.

Economical: In comparison to other conventional fuels, there are more savings. Pipeline delivery, on the other hand can save
transportation cost.

Safe: The absence of storage on the customer’s premises assures a high level of consumer protection, because PNG is lighter
than air, it will evaporate quickly in the event of a leak, preventing spontaneous flammability.