(a) the details of the steps taken to realize the untapped potential of natural gas in the country and reduce the reliance on imports;
(b) the percentage of import out of the total natural gas consumption and the cost incurred on such imports during the last three years, year-wise; and
(c) whether the tenders have been invited from private companies to set up CNG pumps in the country, if so, State-wise and UT-wise details thereof?
MINISTER OF PETROLEUM& NATURAL GAS
(SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a) The policy initiatives taken by the Government to increase domestic production of oil and gas include:-
i. Policy for Relaxations, Extensions and Clarifications under Production Sharing Contract (PSC) regime for early monetization of hydrocarbon discoveries
ii. Discovered Small Field Policy
iii. Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy
iv. Policy for Extension of Production Sharing Contracts
v. Policy for early monetization of Coal Bed Methane
vi. Setting up of National Data Repository
vii. Appraisal of Unappraised areas in Sedimentary Basins
viii. Re-assessment of Hydrocarbon Resources
ix. Policy framework to streamline the working of Production Sharing Contracts in Pre-NELP and NELP Blocks
x. Policy to Promote and Incentivize Enhanced Recovery Methods for Oil and Gas
xi. Policy framework for exploration and exploitation of Unconventional Hydrocarbons under existing Production Sharing Contracts, Coal Bed Methane contracts and Nomination fields
The Government in February, 2019 approved major reforms in exploration and licensing policy to enhance exploration activities, attract domestic and foreign investment in unexplored/unallocated areas of sedimentary basins and accelerate domestic production of oil and gas from existing fields. The policy reforms inter alia aims to boost exploration activities with greater weightage to work programme, simplified fiscal and contractual terms, bidding of exploration blocks under Category II and III sedimentary basins without any production or revenue sharing to Government, early monetization of discoveries by extending fiscal incentives, incentivizing gas production including marketing and pricing freedom, induction of latest technology and capital, more functional freedom to National Oil Companies for collaboration and private sector
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participation for production enhancement methods in nomination fields, streamlining approval processes and promoting ease of doing business including electronic single window mechanism.
(b) The percentage of import out of the total natural gas consumption and the cost incurred on such imports during the last three years is as under:-
Financial year
Total Natural Gas consumed (MMSCM)
LNG import Qty.
(MMSCM) (%)
Amount
(in million US$)
2016-17
55697
24849 (44.6%)
6128
2017-18
59170
27439 (46.4%)
8051
2018-19
60798
28740 (47.3%)
10253
(source – Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell)
(* MMSCM – Million Metric Standard Cubic Metre)
(c) Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is the authority to grant authorization to the entities for the development of City Gas Distribution (CGD) network in Geographical Areas (GAs), as per PNGRB Act, 2006. Setting up of CNG pumps is part of development of CGD network and the same is carried out by the entities viz Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) / subsidiary of PSU / Joint Venture (JV) of PSUs / Private Company / JV of PSU and Private Company, authorized by PNGRB based on techno-commercial viability of area. So far PNGRB has authorized 230 GAs for development of CGD network across the country up to 10th CGD Bidding Round covering more than 400 districts in the country in 27 States/UTs as in Annexure.
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