India to boost gas share to 20% in energy mix by 2030

By Muhsin Baris Tiryakioglu

ISTANBUL

India will increase the share of natural gas to 20 percent in its energy mix by 2030, the Indian petroleum minister said Tuesday in Istanbul.

Speaking at a ministerial session of the 22nd World Petroleum Congress in Istanbul, of which Anadolu Agency is the global communication partner, India's Minister of Petroleum Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said India is supporting investments to increase the share of natural gas in its energy mix.

"We will increase the share of natural gas in our energy mix to 20 percent. We will also raise our natural gas pipelines from 15,000 kilometers to 30,000 kilometers for this aim," the minister said.

The world's second-most populous country will have new liquefied natural gas (LNG) liquefaction facilities to enhance natural gas supply and expand natural gas consumption via LNG-fuelled buses and trains, Pradhan said.

"Our demand for refinery products will rise 5-7 percent in several years. The three biggest Indian energy companies will build an oil refinery to generate 60 million metric tons of oil to meet the country's demand," he said.

India ranks number four in refinery capacity after the U.S., Russia and China.