(a) whether the regulator for oil and gas marketing companies have opposed the utilization
policy for domestic natural gas;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure uninterrupted and adequate supply of
natural gas in all parts of the country and to promote competitive markets?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) & (b): No, Madam. However, Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board has suggested that
commercial and industrial segments of City Gas Distribution Sector may be accorded the same
priority as given to transport & domestic segments.
(c): Government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy strategy to enhance availability of
natural gas in the country, consisting inter alia of the following:-
(i) Intensification of domestic Exploration & Production (E&P) activities through New
Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) rounds.
(ii) Coal Bed Methane (CBM)
(iii) Underground Coal Gasification
(iv) Gas Hydrates
(v) Import of LNG from various countries, and
(vi) Transnational pipelines, viz., Turkmenistan-Afganistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline
and Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline. Further, Government of India has enacted the
“Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) Act, 2006’ to regulate the refining,
processing, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing and sale of petroleum, petroleum
products and natural gas excluding production of crude oil and natural gas so as to protect
the interests of consumers and entities engaged in specified activities relating to petroleum,
petroleum products and natural gas and to ensure uninterrupted and adequate supply of
petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas in all parts of the country and to promote
competitive markets and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.