The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has approved a new set of guidelines allowing compressed biogas (CBG) to be injected into India’s natural gas and city gas distribution networks, paving the way for wider use of green fuel across the country, the board said in a press release.
The move creates a long-awaited framework for the safe, efficient, and standardised integration of biogas into the existing pipeline system, signalling a step toward a more sustainable and decentralised energy network.
The biogas industry has long struggled to transport fuel from production units—many of which are located in rural regions—to urban markets. With the introduction of uniform technical and safety standards, the regulator has enabled grid-based evacuation of gas, replacing the costly and complex practice of moving it by truck. PNGRB described the guidelines as a milestone that helps operationalise pipeline-based evacuation of compressed biogas and addresses a key gap in the sector.
The framework is also expected to provide producers with a reliable route to market, lowering financial risks for lenders and project developers. PNGRB said the measure is likely to strengthen project viability through assured market access, support financing and infrastructure planning, and accelerate the expansion of CBG production nationwide.
The guidelines outline requirements covering gas quality, measurement, safety systems, and odorization. The regulator emphasised that the rules go beyond technical direction and are intended to act as a growth driver for the industry.
PNGRB added that the initiative is expected to deliver notable socio-economic gains, including stable income opportunities for farmers, support for a circular economy, reduced crop residue burning, and increased rural employment.
