India&rsquo;s natural gas consumption is expected to rise to 103 billion cubic meters (bcm) annually by 2030, marking a nearly 60% increase from current levels, according to a senior government official.
Speaking at an event hosted by the Chintan Research Foundation (CRF), Praveen Mal Khanooja, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, stated that under accelerated policy support such as faster city gas distribution (CGD) rollout, greater LNG use in transport, and higher utilisation of gas-fired power plants, demand could climb as high as 120 bcm annually, bringing it close to South America&rsquo;s current levels.
India, which has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, sees natural gas as a critical bridge fuel for its energy transition from coal to a low-carbon future.
&ldquo;With lower carbon and particulate emissions, gas is globally recognised as a transitional fossil fuel. While green hydrogen, compressed biogas, and coal-bed methane are emerging alternatives, regasified LNG remains India&rsquo;s primary driver for increasing gas share in the energy mix,&rdquo; Khanooja noted.
Currently, gas makes up 6.8% of India's primary energy mix, far below the 15% target set for 2030. Reports, including the IEA&rsquo;s India Gas Market Report, suggest that under current trends, India may only reach 8 to 9% by 2030.
To scale up gas usage to even 10% of the mix, critical infrastructure and policy reforms are essential. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas recently updated demand projections under the India Gas Vision programme, highlighting strong growth across sectors supported by infrastructure expansion and policy initiatives.
Suresh P. Manglani, CEO of Adani Total Gas Limited (ATGL), cited China&rsquo;s aggressive LNG strategy as a model, especially in trucking and freight transport. &ldquo;If India wants to move away from high-speed diesel, we need a similar approach. Even with an added demand of 70 to 200 million cubic meters of LNG and 300 LNG stations across 30 to 35 logistics hubs, we&rsquo;d only cover traditional segments,&rdquo; Manglani said.
He also called for support for startups and entrepreneurs working on unconventional uses of gas in remote areas, industrial clusters, and new industries. &ldquo;Such opportunities already exist across the country,&rdquo; he added.
With the GST rollout creating a unified national market, Manglani emphasized building on that momentum to enhance logistics, improve efficiency, and create a pro-business ecosystem.
Rajesh Kumar Mediratta, MD and CEO of the Indian Gas Exchange (IGX), stressed the need for India to develop a strong and self-sustaining gas market. &ldquo;India can emerge as one of the largest gas demand centres in Asia, rivaling Japan or South Korea. This would allow us to negotiate global contracts from a position of strength,&rdquo; he said. [Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]

India’s Gas Demand to Surge 60% by 2030

India targets major rise in natural gas use by 2030

India’s Gas Demand to Surge 60% by 2030: Govt

India targets major rise in natural gas use by 2030

July 24, 2025 | 14:56 IST