NEW DELHI: Only about 20% of LPG consumers who have a PNG network in their neighbourhood and can switch to the cleaner fuel have actually converted to piped gas despite govt’s push following the military conflict in West Asia earlier this year.Of the 21.7 lakh consumers identified by city gas distribution (CGD) companies as having access to a PNG network and being eligible to switch, only 4.4 lakh have applied so far, while connections of 3.3 lakh consumers have been activated, govt data showed.These consumers are spread across more than 72,000 housing societies in 311 geographical areas where PNG networks are available through oil companies, and public sector and private CGD entities.Data also showed that more than 21 lakh households were sent WhatsApp messages and eight lakh were given physical notices to switch to PNG. More than 33,000 camps were also organised, but conversion remained low. In the last five months, a little over 1.4 lakh households surrendered their LPG connections.While the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board had launched two campaigns to promote PNG, the real push came from govt during the peak of the West Asia conflict in March and April, when supplies through the Strait of Hormuz were disrupted and India faced a squeeze on LPG imports.Of the 33 million tonne of LPG consumed in 2025-26, India domestically produced about 13 MT, while the remaining requirement was met through imports, mostly from West Asia. In comparison, India is relatively more comfortable with LNG supplies and domestic gas production.The petroleum ministry in March issued an order to accelerate pipeline infrastructure, ease approvals and promote a shift from LPG to PNG to strengthen energy security. It also asked CGD and oil companies to communicate with LPG consumers who had a PNG network in their area, asking them to switch to piped gas within three months or risk discontinuation of their LPG cylinder supply.Officials said a task force constituted by the ministry for enhancing PNG penetration and mapping LPG-PNG consumers met on Wednesday, with poor conversion rates being discussed. Companies were asked to expand the PNG network. A thorough de-duplication exercise will also be carried out to identify consumers who have both LPG and PNG connections.To accelerate the adoption of piped gas, petroleum secretary Neeraj Mittal recently wrote to the chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories, asking them to provide district-level administrative support and appoint nodal officers to coordinate with gas distributors and oil marketing companies to expand the network.
Share your thoughts in the comments
Be respectful · TOI community guidelines
Govt has also launched an incentive scheme for CGD entities, effective from Sept 1, promising them an additional 200 standard cubic metres of domestically produced, lower-priced APM gas for activating each previously unbilled connection.
