India Witnesses Massive Growth in Piped Gas and Clean Energy Initiatives

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced a significant increase in piped gas connections, rising from 25 lakhs in 2014 to 1.32 crores in 2024. India's refining capacity and LPG connections have also surged, alongside ethanol blending in petrol, as the country moves towards energy independence and sustainability.

New Delhi [India], August 16 (ANI): Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced a dramatic rise in India's piped gas connections, which have soared to 1.32 crores in 2024 from just 25 lakhs in 2014. 'Over the past decade, major reforms have reshaped our energy sector, enhancing the availability, affordability, and sustainability of energy,' Puri stated.

In a social media post on 'X', the minister outlined five paths to energy independence for citizens. He highlighted the increase in India's refining capacity to 256.8 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) from 215 million in 2014 and the rise in ethanol blending in petrol to 15 percent in 2024, up from 1.53 percent in 2014.

Noting the rise in LPG connections, Puri said there are now over 32.73 crore active LPG connections, including 10.33 crore PMUY connections, up from 14.52 crore in 2014. 'The natural gas pipeline network has expanded from 15,000 km in 2014 to 24,881 km in 2024,' the minister added on Thursday in a social media post on 'X'.

'Efforts to expand Ujjwala connections for smoke-free kitchens, boost refining capacities, and support green initiatives like ethanol blending are driving sustainability and affordability,' Puri asserted. He emphasized India's resilience to rising global fuel prices, partly due to the central government's reduction of excise duty.

'Between January 2022 and July 2024, India successfully maintained steady fuel prices, even as many advanced nations faced rising costs,' Puri noted. He also mentioned the expansion of Petronet LNG's Dahej terminal from 17.5 MMTPA to 22.5 MMTPA as part of India's journey towards energy self-sufficiency.

The Dahej LNG terminal in Gujarat is currently India's largest single-location LNG storage and regasification facility. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)