Slow last-mile connections, material shortages, identified as hurdles impeding expansion of PNG network

NEW DELHI: Slow last-mile connections, material shortages, skilled workforce deficit, fragmented approvals, and absence of a unified digital system have been identified as critical bottlenecks impeding the expansion of the piped natural gas (PNG) network across the country.A special task force formed by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) to accelerate clean energy adoption has observed that while PNG expansion in India has reached an execution inflection point and pipeline infrastructure exists, the bottleneck is last-mile speed. To achieve the target of 60 lakh new household PNG connections in 90 days, it is important to address three physical bottlenecks - shortage of materials, shortage of skilled workers, and slow installation methods.According to the report, the sector requires 21 lakh gas meters, 18 lakh domestic regulators, 120 lakh appliance and isolation valves, besides skilled manpower.“Form a CGD (city gas distribution) industry technical committee under PNGRB to take all technical and material decisions, including exploration of new/advanced materials and allowing them for use. Enable material pooling across CGDs. Expedite procurement via reverse auctions and pre-approved vendor panels,” the panel said in its report.

It has also asked the petroleum secretary to remove material chokepoints blocking 60 lakh connections by doing away with import duty and fast-tracking clearances for gas meters and regulators.To solve the manpower shortage and scale up the workforce, the task force has suggested that the urban development ministry deploy water plumbers for outside-kitchen PNG work and the skill development ministry run urgent two-week training courses with CGD entities at local institutions.Switching to multi-layer composite pipes will “dramatically reduce installation time and skill dependency compared to traditional GI piping”, the panel stated.The petroleum ministry had issued a new order in March focusing on reforms to fast-track approvals for laying pipeline infrastructure, standardise charges, and ensure time-bound permissions for promoting a shift from LPG to PNG to strengthen energy security.

The panel has recommended that the petroleum secretary issue inter-ministerial directions for removal of administrative and approval blockages.It has suggested making PNG connections mandatory in all new and under-construction buildings, reducing value added tax on gas, mandating piped gas for commercial food establishments where infrastructure exists, and simplifying forest clearances for underground pipeline crossings along existing road corridors.The task force has also suggested launching a nationwide campaign to promote PNG, creating a unified digital system where LPG connections are surrendered automatically once PNG is activated, and supplying gas in cryogenic cylinders through vehicles in areas where pipelines do not exist.