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Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) | Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG)
The PNGRB has approved of a standardized framework to operationalize grid-based evacuation of Compressed Biogas (CBG) . Approved on February 11, 2026, these guidelines address a critical gap in the CBG ecosystem by providing technical, operational, and safety standards for the safe integration of domestically produced green gas into existing authorized gas infrastructure.
Developed through an inclusive consultative process, the framework covers quality analyzers, calibration practices, and cluster-based pipeline connectivity under the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Scheme. By ensuring assured market access and improving project viability, the board aims to reduce dependence on imported LNG while facilitating the utilization of organic feedstocks like agricultural residue and municipal solid waste.
Key Pillars of the CBG Injection Framework
Standardized Technical Integration: Aligning design and technical standards with existing Technical Standards and Specifications including Safety Standard (T4S) Regulations for NGPL and CGD networks.
Quality Assurance and Monitoring: Referencing Access Code Regulations and BIS Standards to mandate specific CBG quality parameters, supported by quality analyzers and calibration practices.
Operational and Maintenance Protocols: Establishing clear installation procedures for injection facilities alongside rigorous monitoring, maintenance, and integrity management systems.
Safety and Control Systems: Mandating safety instrumentation, including odorization and advanced control systems, to maintain grid safety during bio-gas blending.
Grid-Based Evacuation Infrastructure: Promoting cluster-based pipeline connectivity under the DPI Scheme to optimize infrastructure planning and accelerate production scale-up.
What is “Grid-Based Evacuation” in the CBG sector? Grid-based evacuation refers to the process of injecting Compressed Biogas (CBG) directly into the existing national natural gas pipelines (NGPL) or city gas distribution (CGD) networks for transportation and consumption. Previously, CBG was primarily transported via cylinders (cascades) by road, which limited its scale; this new framework allows for continuous, high-volume movement of green gas through the grid. This “plug-and-play” connectivity improves project viability for developers and ensures a steady supply of renewable gas to industrial and domestic consumers.
Policy Relevance
By institutionalizing these guidelines, PNGRB is fulfilling a strategic mandate to mainstream bio-gas within India’s natural gas-based energy transition, directly supporting the “Waste-to-Wealth” mission.
Strategic Impact:
Enhancing Energy Security: Domestic CBG production serves as a “Green Import Substitute,” potentially reducing the national outgo on imported LNG.
Empowering the Rural Economy: The shift to grid-based evacuation provides assured income for farmers by creating a stable market for agricultural residue and cattle dung.
Mitigating Environmental Hazards: Encouraging CBG production from crop residue helps reduce the incidence of stubble burning, thereby improving air quality in Northern India.
Promoting Circularity: The guidelines facilitate a circular economy by converting municipal solid waste and organic feedstock into clean energy hubs for urban and rural use.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: In what ways can 'Socio-Economic Incentives' be restructured to encourage CBG producers to prioritize the use of municipal solid waste over agricultural residue in high-density urban corridors?
Follow the full news here: PNGRB: Guidelines for CBG Injection into NGPL and CGD Networks