India increases natural gas production by 7.8%, imports by 5.4% in April 2024: PPAC, ET EnergyWorld

New Delhi: India’s gross natural gas production in April 2024 reached 2,958 million standard cubic meters (MMSCM), an increase of 7.8% in April 2024, as per the latest report of the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC). compared to the same month last year. ) Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. This increase highlights the country’s continued efforts to increase domestic production capacity in the energy sector.

Moreover, total liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports reached 2,650 MMSCM during the month, reflecting an increase of 5.4% compared to April 2023. These figures highlight India’s continued dependence on imported LNG to meet growing energy demand despite increase in domestic production.

The total available amount of natural gas in April 2024 was 5,087 MMSCM, an increase of 7.1%. Every year. This increased availability has played a key role in supporting various sectors of the economy, especially as India pursues more energy-intensive industrial activities.

“Integration of increased domestic production with strategic imports ensures that India is well positioned to meet its industrial and commercial energy needs,” commented a senior official from PPAC. “These efforts are in line with the government’s goal of increasing the share of natural gas in India’s energy mix, contributing to more sustainable economic growth.”

The sectoral breakdown of natural gas consumption in April 2024 showed that the largest consumer is still the fertilizer industry, consuming 28%. total gas supplied. The sector relies heavily on natural gas as a raw material for the production of urea and other fertilizers, key to the Indian agricultural sector.

Municipal gas distribution (CGD) accounted for 20 percent of consumption, reflecting the government’s push to use natural gas as a cleaner cooking and vehicle fuel. The power sector, which consumed 16% of the total, uses natural gas to generate electricity, with relatively lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to coal and oil.

The next significant consumers were refineries and petrochemical plants, consuming 11% and 2% of total natural gas, respectively. These industries use natural gas as a raw material to produce a variety of products, from gasoline and diesel to plastics and synthetic fibers.

The report also highlights robust processes for collecting and storing gas production and import data, ensuring accuracy and transparency. “The meticulous approach to data processing reflects our commitment to providing reliable and timely information to all stakeholders,” the official added.

Looking ahead, the PPAC report highlights strategic initiatives undertaken by the government to further increase domestic natural gas production through new exploration and improved extraction techniques from existing fields. These initiatives are expected to gradually reduce India’s import dependence and stabilize supply to the growing domestic market.

As India continues on its path towards a more diversified and sustainable energy portfolio, the role of natural gas will grow, supporting not only the country’s economic ambitions but also its environmental commitments internationally.