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Compressed Natural Gas Infrastructure
Context:
Establishment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Infrastructure is a significant component of India’s City Gas Distribution (CGD) network development.
Compressed Natural Gas:
- It is an eco-friendly automotive fuel that significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.
- It is natural gas compressed to 200-250 kg/cm², occupying less than 1% of its volume at atmospheric pressure.
- CNG, which is 80-90% methane, differs from Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), which is a liquid mixture of propane and butane.
CNG Infrastructure Development:
- Regulatory Framework: Development of CNG stations is overseen by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).
- It authorises entities to implement CGD networks as per their Minimum Work Programme (MWP).
- Bidding and Authorization: Following completion of 12/12A CGD bidding round, PNGRB authorised entities to develop CGD networks across 307 Geographical Areas. It aims to cover nearly 100% of the country’s geographical area, spanning approximately 733 districts in 34 states and Union Territories.
- CNG Station Goals: The MWP targets establishment of 18,336 CNG stations nationwide by 2032. It is designed to enhance availability of CNG as a clean fuel option for transportation.
Compressed Natural Gas Fueling Stations:
- Building a CNG station requires calculating the right combination of pressure and storage for the vehicles being fueled.
- Choosing the appropriate compressor size and storage capacity impacts fuel cost and vehicle range.
- Unlike gasoline or diesel stations, CNG stations are not “one size fits all.”
Types of CNG Stations: There are three types of CNG infrastructure:
- Time-fill
- Fast-fill
- A combination of both Time-fill and Fast-fill .
- The key differences are storage capacity and compressor size, which affects fuel dispensed and delivery time.
NITI Aayog recommends developing a Natural Gas Mobility Dashboard with GIS mapping to provide real-time refuelling locations and wait times. 
City Gas Distribution (CGD) Network:
- It consists of a connected system of underground natural gas pipelines that deliver Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). It is divided into four distinct segments: CNG is primarily used as auto-fuel. PNG is utilised in domestic, commercial, and industrial applications.
- They also deliver natural gas to retail outlets within a specific city or district, where it is compressed and then used to fill vehicles with CNG.
Government Initiatives to Promote CNG:
- The government is actively expanding the CGD network to increase the accessibility of CNG, including the establishment of new CNG stations:
- The Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas inaugurated 201 CNG stations in March 2024 in 52 Geographical Areas across 17 states.
- He also noted that India will have around 17,500 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations by 2030.
- Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT): Promote the production of bio-CNG, aiming to increase the share of natural gas in the energy mix to 15% by 2030.
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Bio-CNG:
Raw material sources of Bio-CNG:
Economic Survey 2023-24: Case Study on Bio-CNG
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