Government Sets Target To Increase Share Of Gas In Energy Mix Up To 15 % By 2030

New Delhi, April 18 (TNA) Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri has highlighted the need for domestic production biofuels and said it will play a pivotal role in achieving reduction in import of fossil fuel and ultimately help to achieve the target of net zero emission. He was addressing the Global Conference on Compressed Biogas (CBG) in New Delhi on Monday, which was organised by the Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE).

Highlighting the need for alternative fuels, Puri said, “Considering the limited domestic availability of fossil fuels and import dependence for this, the energy security of the country will remain vulnerable until alternative fuels to substitute/supplement fossil fuels are developed based on indigenously sustainable renewable feedstock”.

The Minister said that the production of CBG would have multiple benefits viz. reduction of natural gas imports, reduction of GHG emission, reduction in burning of agriculture residues, providing remunerative income to farmers, employment generation, effective waste management etc adding, “Government of India has set a target to increase the share of gas in the energy mix up to 15% in 2030 to make India a Gas-based economy. Presently we are importing around 50% of our requirement of Natural gas. Speedy expansion of CBG will help in meeting our additional requirement from domestic resources.”

The Minister also shared India’s ambitious target to set up 5,000 commercial plants by 2024- 25 and produce 15 MMT of CBG which would replace other gaseous fuels being used in the country. He mentioned that India had commissioned 46 compressed biogas plants under SATAT Scheme and there were 100 outlets currently dispensing the compressed biogas across the country.

Talking about the ecosystem, Puri emphasised that present Government has been persistent in developing a conducive ecosystem in order to promote sustainability for all actors of the Triple Bottom Line (environment, society and economy). He indicates how the Government has formulated policies, developed schemes providing support through Central Financial Assistance, etc to support the adoption of green energy in any form.

He also mentioned that the Government is engaging with other departments and ministries to simplify the regulations further, resulting in easier adoption and implementation of projects. He mentioned about Department of Fertilizers, which issued a letter to Fertilizer companies for mandatory offtake of FOM with chemical fertilizers as a "Basket approach" and Central Pollution Control Board that included plants under 'white category' status on case-to-case basis.