The Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated the third phase of the government’s gas‑expansion programme, National PNG Drive 3.0, together with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) and city‑gas distributors. The launch signals a renewed push to shift Indian homes from LPG cylinders to cleaner piped natural gas (PNG).
Key Developments
- Phase 3 runs until the end of FY27 and aims for 50 lakh new domestic PNG connections.
- It also seeks to convert 40 lakh existing connections into active consumers and register another 50 lakh households for PNG.
- The second phase (1 Jan – 30 Jun 2026) added 13.4 lakh billed connections and generated 15.3 lakh registrations.
- Daily additions of connections rose 43 % to 6,690 per day, while billed consumers increased more than 2.5 times to 7,392 per day.
Important Facts
PNGRB reports that about 6.9 lakh inch‑km of pipeline network is in place, comprising 2.5 lakh inch‑km of steel pipelines and 4.42 lakh inch‑km of MDPE pipelines. This infrastructure can support roughly 1.3 crore domestic PNG connections.
Exam Relevance
The scheme touches on several GS‑3 themes: energy security, diversification of the primary energy mix, and reduction of carbon emissions. Understanding the role of PNG helps answer questions on clean‑energy transitions, infrastructure development, and the regulatory framework governed by PNGRB. It also illustrates inter‑ministerial coordination between the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and state gas distributors.
Way Forward
- Improve utilisation of existing city‑gas networks, especially in semi‑urban and rural areas.
- Accelerate pipeline laying to match the projected demand of 1.3 crore households.
- Strengthen consumer awareness about the safety and cost benefits of PNG over LPG.
- Monitor progress through regular PNGRB data releases to ensure targets are met before the end of FY27.
Minister Puri’s statement that the drive will raise the share of natural gas in India’s energy mix from the current ~6 % underscores the policy’s importance for achieving a cleaner, more reliable, and affordable energy future.