SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | SDG 13: Climate Action
Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) | Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG)
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) launched National PNG Drive 2.0 on January 1, 2026, a high-impact three-month campaign running through March 31, 2026. This nationwide initiative aims to significantly expand the adoption of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), positioning natural gas as a cornerstone of India’s sustainable energy future.
Key strategic objectives and milestones include:
Infrastructure Expansion: The drive targets connecting an additional 37 Geographical Areas (GAs) to the National Gas Pipeline and extending PNG services to 44 previously unconnected districts.
Targeted Implementation: PNGRB has identified 110 focused GAs for intensified on-ground activities, leveraging areas with high growth potential and infrastructure readiness.
Operational Upgrades: A critical technical goal is upgrading Daughter Booster CNG Stations to online mode to ensure seamless, uninterrupted supply for transport users.
Multi-Sectoral Reach: The initiative pursues five dimensions: pipeline connectivity, expanding the domestic PNG base, enhancing commercial/industrial adoption, activating dormant connections, and augmenting CNG infrastructure.
Institutional Coordination: A dedicated industry committee, comprising leading CGD (City Gas Distribution) entities, steers the campaign to leverage diverse operational expertise across the country.
What is the “Daughter Booster CNG Station” upgrade? It is a transition from the “mother-daughter” supply model—where CNG is transported via mobile cascades—to a pipeline-connected “online” system. By connecting these stations directly to the natural gas grid, the upgrade eliminates the reliance on road-based fuel transport, ensures 24/7 fuel availability without stockouts, and significantly reduces the operational carbon footprint of the transport sector.
What is a Geographical Area (GA) in CGD (City Gas Distribution)? It is a specific territory—which could be a single district, a part of a district, or a cluster of districts—authorized by the PNGRB to a single entity through competitive bidding. The authorized entity has "physical exclusivity" to lay pipelines in that area for a set period, ensuring a planned and safe rollout of natural gas infrastructure to every household and business within that zone.
Policy Relevance
PNG Drive 2.0 is a vital instrument for achieving India’s target of increasing the share of natural gas in the energy mix to 15% by 2030 from the current level of approximately 6.7%. By authorizing CGD networks across 307 GAs, PNGRB has achieved 100% coverage of India’s mainland territory, creating a platform for a total transition to a gas-based economy. This move is essential for India’s Net Zero 2070 commitment and the 2030 goal of reducing GDP emission intensity by 45%.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will PNGRB leverage the newly formed ‘Industry Committee’ to ensure that consumer incentive schemes are uniformly applied across all 307 GAs, preventing regional disparities in PNG adoption rates?
Follow the full news here: PNGRB Launches National PNG Drive 2.0 to Accelerate Clean Energy Transition and Natural Gas Adoption