Context: GAIL (India) Limited has completed the laying of over 97% of the integrated Jagdishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline (JHBDPL), under the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Project, which will carry Natural Gas to the eastern and Northern parts of India.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Project.
Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Project
- Total length of pipeline under the Project is approx. 3384 km, and its components include:
- Jagdishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline
- Barauni-Guwahati Pipeline
- Aim: To expand India’s natural gas grid, promote cleaner energy solutions and ensure efficient natural gas distribution, including LNG.
- States covered: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam.
- Implemented by: Gas Agency of India Limited (GAIL).
- Utility: The pipeline is currently transporting 12.26 Million Standard Cubic Meters Per Day (MMSCMD) of natural gas including supplies to fertilizer plants, refineries, industrial consumers, and City Gas Distribution networks, along the pipeline route.
Significance of Urja Ganga Project
- Spur economic growth in eastern India by providing access to cheapest gas transportation and gas pricing reforms, and regional integration through natural gas grid.
- Enhances India’s energy security by diversifying energy mix.
- Reduces carbon emissions by providing a cleaner alternative to conventional fossil fuels.
India’s transition to a Gas-based Economy
- Natural gas is a fossil fuel energy source. The largest component of natural gas is methane. It also contains smaller amounts of natural gas liquids (hydrocarbon gas liquids), and non hydrocarbon gases, such as carbon dioxide and water vapour. It is processed and converted into cleaner fuel for consumption.
- The Indian Government has set a target to increase the share of gas in the energy mix up to 15% in 2030 to make India a gas-based economy, around 7% at present. Presently, India is importing around 50% of its requirement of natural gas.