State-run GAIL India Ltd [Get Quote] has mooted a multi-billion-dollar CNG corridor in the country to save up to Rs 60,000 crore (Rs 600 billion) in oil bill and cut carbon emissions from automobiles. "Project to supply CNG to automobiles and piped gas to households can be set up in cities falling on gas pipelines," GAIL chairman and managing director U D Choubey said at the India Energy Summit in New Delhi.
By 2012, the country will have a grid of criss-cross gas pipelines to take the fuel from new fields like Reliance Industries' [Get Quote] Krishna Godavari basin to consumption centres.
GAIL, the pioneer in city gas distribution networks, has been invited by countries like Iran to replicate the CNG success of Delhi and Mumbai. The state-run firm is setting up networks to sell CNG in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra and has applied for licences for Kerala, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Orissa and Tamil Nadu.
"If 25 per cent of the fuel burnt by automobiles is replaced by cleaner compressed natural gas (CNG), the nation can save Rs 15,000 crore (Rs 150 billion) in oil bill," he said.
CNG is not only cheaper than auto fuels like petrol and diesel but also cuts carbon emissions that contribute to Green House gases.
India spent Rs 1,80,000 crore (Rs 1800 billion) on oil imports in 2006-07 and 75 per cent of the consumption, which stood at 135 million tons, was made by the transport sector.
"There are already 400 CNG dispensing stations in the country and many more can be set up. What is required is an integrated effort by all the stakeholders," he said.
Choubey stressed on the need for a legislation mandating use of CNG in all automobiles as was done in the transport sector in Delhi.
© Copyright 2007 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.
|
Advertisement
Email this Article 
Print this Article