New Delhi, Apr 18 (KNN) Government of India has set a target to increase the share of gas in the energy mix up to 15 per cent in 2030 to make India a Gas-based economy, said Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday.

Presently India is importing around 50 per cent of its requirement of Natural gas.

“Speedy expansion of CBG will help in meeting our additional requirement from domestic resources,” he said addressing the Global Conference on Compressed Biogas (CBG) in New Delhi, which was organised by the Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE).

He 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.

Emphasizing on the need for alternative fuels, the Union Minister 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.”

He 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.

The Minister especially mentioned about the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) Scheme and the use of agro-waste to generate compressed biogas.

He said, “Under SATAT initiative various waste streams such as animal dung, agricultural residues, MSW (Municipal Solid Waste), sewage water and industrial wastes such as press mud, spent wash from sugar industry, food processing industry etc. is being looked into as feedstock for production of Biogas/CBG.”

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.  (KNN Bureau)