DK Sarraf heads PNGRB Vision 2040 gas panel
Some of the biggest names in the gas sector have joined a government panel to share their expertise.
Headed by former PNGRB chairman DK Sarraf, the high-profile government panel has begun seeking inputs to help the country achieve its gas development targets by 2040. On June 21 and June 22 (2024), the panel sat in on presentations by S&P Global, Adani Total Gas, Adani Total LNG, Torrent Power, GSPC, GSPC Mundra, Gujarat Gas and others on policy and other changes needed to boost the share of gas in the domestic energy basket.
Presently, gas makes up 6% of India’s energy basket which the government aims to increase to 15% by 2030. On May 3 (2024), the PNGRB set up the six-member panel to prepare a report based on "inputs from stakeholders whose actions would impact gas demand and supply in the medium term (2040) and gas infrastructure in India."
Expect the panel to submit its report by end-August 2024. Others on the panel are Gurdeep Singh, chairman of state-owned power producer NTPC; Sandeep Gupta, CMD of GAIL; Manoj Jain, MD of Torrent Gas (and former CMD of GAIL); AK Balyan, chairman and director at Carmine Energy and former MD of Petronet-LNG; and Suresh Manglani, CEO of Adani Total Gas.
PNGRB joint advisor Pankaj Bhutani is the panel's convenor, which first met on May 27 (2024) in Delhi. In its two-page note, the PNGRB said the panel should "examine the entire gas value chain like gas/LNG prices, regasification charges, transportation charges, taxation, competition with alternate fuels, advancements in technologies and other aspects as necessary and recommend measures to increase the share of gas in the energy basket to 15% by 2030."
More, the panel should develop demand and supply scenarios for R-LNG and domestic gas until 2040 for the power, CGD, fertiliser, steel, and refineries sectors.