Question : National Gas Pipeline Projects

(a) the details of the existing network of gas pipelines including industrial pipelines and its capacity to transport gas/LPG across the country;

(b) whether the Government proposes to expand gas grid network/industrial pipelines across the country, State/UT-wise;

(c) if so, the details thereof and investment made by public/private sector companies, the status of ongoing projects including the steps taken to expedite the execution of the projects, State/UT/project-wise;

(d) whether the gas based industries have been badly affected due to non-availability of gas/lack of pipelines network across the country, if so, the details thereof and the action plan prepared for the purpose; and

(e) whether Gas Authority of India Limited proposes to set up gas pipeline from Gokak to Goa to ensure gas supply in that region and if so, the details thereof along with the benefits likely to accrue to gas based industries including estimated employment likely to be generated as a result thereof?
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MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.




STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.196 ASKED BY SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE AND SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH, MPs TO BE ANSWERED ON AUGUST 3, 2015

(a): The details of existing network of gas pipelines including industrial pipelines and its capacities to transport gas/LPG across the country is given at Annexure-I.

(b) & (c): Yes, Madam. At present, the country is having about 15,000 kms of natural gas pipeline infrastructure and an additional 15,000 kms of pipeline is required for completion of National Gas Grid. Out of this additional 15,000 kms, PNGRB/Government of India has authorized entities for laying of about 11,900 kms of pipelines and 1175 kms of pipeline is pending for award due to court case pending before the Hon’ble Supreme Court in respect of Ennore-Bengaluru-Puducherry-Nagapattinam-Madurai-Tuticorin natural gas pipeline. Further, in order to complete the national gas grid, Ministry has identified 3 pipeline sections having a total length of about 2500 kms for development through PPP mode with Viability Gap Funding Scheme of Ministry of Finance through Indian Infrastructure Project Development Fund (IIPDF). GAIL has been appointed as the “Sponsoring Authority” for development of Ranchi-Talcher-Paradip pipeline as a pilot project under PPP mode with Viability Gap Funding. The detailed status of ongoing gas pipeline projects is given at Annexure-II.

(d): Yes, Madam. Availability of natural gas in the country has declined in the past due to decline in domestic gas production. The actual gas demand is price sensitive and total gas consumption during 2014-15 was only 116.78 MMSCMD (73.93 MMSCMD domestic and 42.85 MMSCMD R-LNG). Due to less demand of imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), out of 62.10 MMSCMD of total regasification capacity, 19.25 MMSCMD remained unutilized. Existing capacity of pipeline network is about 430 MMSCMD which is much higher than the consumption and demand. Further, in order to enhance availability of natural gas in the country, Government has taken several steps which inter alia include the following:

i. Intensification of domestic Exploration & Production (E&P) activities through New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) rounds;
ii. Shale Gas Policy framework;
iii. Research and development of Gas Hydrate resources in the country;
iv. Import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from various countries;
v. Transnational pipelines viz., Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline and Iran-Pakistan-India(IPI) pipeline;
vi. Clearance for exploration and development of some NELP blocks where the same was held up by various agencies; and
vii. Exploration in the Mining Lease Area has been allowed with certain conditions.
viii. Acquisition of Overseas Oil and Gas assets is being pursued in order to enhance energy security for the country.

Apart from above the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), in its meeting dated 25.03.2015 and 31.03.2015 has approved the policy to revive and improve utilization of the stranded gas based power generation capacity and pooling of gas in fertilizer (urea) Sectors. The former has made R-LNG based power generation commercially viable for idle/ stranded gas based power plants.

The pooling of gas in fertilizer sector has enabled fertilizer plants manufacturing urea to run at its full capacities.

(e): GAIL (India) Ltd. was entrusted to develop Dabhol-Bangalore pipeline (DBPL) in year 2007. Gokak to Goa pipeline section was a part of DBPL. GAIL, in February, 2013 has commissioned DBPL project including the Gokak to Goa pipeline section. With the commissioning of Gokak to Goa pipeline section, natural gas is being made available to Zuari Agro Chemicals Ltd. located in Goa. Further, GAIL is in the process to provide pipeline connectivity to other industrial customers in Goa. With the availability of pipeline connectivity upto Goa, natural gas can be used as a feedstock for fertilizer industry and as a fuel for power generation/heating purpose in the State of Goa. Further, the Gokak to Goa pipeline section will facilitate the development of City Gas Distribution Network in Goa region which in turn have potential of employment generation in the region. Development of CGD Network will also ensure the availability of eco-friendly cooking fuel/transportation fuel in the form of PNG/CNG.

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