Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) is emerging as a key component of India’s clean energy transition, with industry leaders highlighting its potential to strengthen energy security while urging faster development of infrastructure and solutions to improve gas off-take, ANI reported.
Speaking on the sidelines of a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) conference in New Delhi, Rahul Tandon said domestically produced CBG can reduce India’s dependence on imported fuel and improve the country’s energy security.
Tandon said recent developments had exposed the vulnerability of India’s gas procurement, making the expansion of domestic bio-gas production increasingly important.
He said the government has been actively promoting CBG as an indigenous fuel that can replace imported gas while supporting the country’s long-term energy needs.
Calling for greater collaboration, Tandon said industry, academia, research institutions, government ministries and regulatory bodies need to work together to ensure that CBG becomes more than a compliance requirement and contributes meaningfully to India’s sustainable energy goals, ANI stated.
Meanwhile, Sachchidanand Yadav, Executive Director (CBG) at GAIL India Limited, said one of the biggest challenges facing the sector is ensuring reliable off-take of gas produced by CBG plants.
Yadav said the issue could be addressed by expanding pipeline connectivity through either CBG producers or City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies. However, he noted that most CBG producers lack experience in meeting oil and gas infrastructure standards, making CGD entities better placed to undertake pipeline development.
He added that laying new pipelines is expensive and remains a major obstacle despite incentives available under the Development of Pipeline Infrastructure (DPI) scheme of the Ministry.
Industry participants said expanding CBG production and strengthening supporting infrastructure will be essential for accelerating the adoption of the clean fuel.
They said the sector is expected to play an important role in improving India’s energy security, reducing dependence on imported fuels, promoting sustainable transport and supporting the country’s clean energy objectives.
