Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Inaugurates 201 CNG Stations, Emphasises On Mobile Refuelling For Future Expansion

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday (8 June) inaugurated 201 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations set up by the GAIL across the country.

The minister also inaugurated the commencement of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) supply in Jhansi and Mobile Refueling Units (MRUs) for refuelling vehicles at Raigad.

Asserting that the future of fuel retail is mobile, the minister spoke about various measures to boost this ecosystem, including setting up a mobile refuelling CNG facility. He also outlined the benefits of mobile fuel retailing, which includes cost advantage and advantage in terms of reaching out to consumers at shopping malls, offices and other places.

Under the Modi government, India has committed to achieving a 15 per cent share of natural gas in the primary energy mix by 2030 for more sustainable energy use, which will help reduce environmental pollution and fulfil India's commitment to COP-21. Greater use of natural gas will reduce dependence on fossil fuel and consequently reduce import bills and import dependence.

Pradhan said that India has launched the E-100 pilot project to produce and distribute ethanol across the country and is committed to meeting its target of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol by 2025.

The minister said that there is a need to convert diesel or petrol vehicles to CNG or LNG to ensure lesser emissions and a cleaner environment. In that direction, the Mobile Refueling Unit (MRU) will help achieve supply of CNG in areas not yet connected through pipelines or at places where there is a scarcity of land parcels to set up conventional CNG stations.

MRU can store up to 1,500 kg CNG and can fill 150 to 200 vehicles per day. The minister stressed the need to expedite more MRUs in the country to increase the mobility of fuel availability through their deployment at various points.

Pradhan emphasized that the government aimed to move towards the concept of energy retailer where all different transport fuels – Hydrogen, diesel, petrol, CNG, LNG or EV batteries swapping facility shall be available at a single point.