MAGNUM Blog

Gas sector is among the core industries in India and plays a major role in influencing decision making for all the other important sections of the economy. India’s economic growth is closely related to its energy demand, therefore, the need for gas is projected to grow more, thereby making the sector quite conducive for investment.

The Government has adopted several policies to fulfil the increasing demand. It has allowed 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in many segments of the sector, including natural gas, petroleum products and refineries among others. Today, it attracts both domestic and foreign investment as attested by the presence of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and Cairn India.

India has been the fourth-largest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) importer since 2011 after Japan, South Korea, and China. Gas pipeline infrastructure in the country stood at 16,981 kms at the beginning of April 2020. Government of India is planning to invest Rs 70,000 crore (US$ 9.97 billion) to expand the gas pipeline network across the country.

A gas exchange is planned in order to bring market-driven pricing in the energy market of India and the proposal for the same is ready to be taken to the Union Cabinet according to Mr Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India.

The Oil Ministry plans to set up bio-CNG (compressed natural gas) plants and allied infrastructure at a cost of Rs 7,000 crore (US$ 1.10 billion) to promote the use of clean fuel. As on March 01, 2020, Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) had the largest share (71.61 per cent or 11,411 kms) of the country’s natural gas pipeline network (16,324 kms).

With 8,748 kms of refined products pipeline in India, IOC was leading the segment with 51.25 per cent of the total length of product pipeline network as on March 01, 2020.Under City Gas Distribution (CGD) network, 86 Geographical Areas constituting 174 districts in 22 States / Union Territories are covered.

Road Ahead

Energy demand of India is anticipated to grow faster than energy demand of all major economies on the back of continuous robust economic growth. India’s energy demand is expected to double to 1,516 Mtoe by 2035 from 753.7 Mtoe in 2017.  Moreover, the country’s share in global primary energy consumption is projected to increase by two-fold by 2035.Natural Gas consumption is forecast to increase at a CAGR of 4.31 per cent to 143.08 million tonnes by 2040.

BENEFICIARIES :   GAIL, IOC, MGL, IGL.

Oil and gas sector among the eight core industries in India and plays a major role in influencing decision making for all the other important sections of the economy. The need for oil and gas is projected to grow more as expansion in gas-based plant are finding more traction and cheap productivity, thereby making the sector quite conducive for investment.

India’s oil refining capacity stood at 249.9 million metric tonnes (MMT), making it the second-largest refiner in Asia. Private companies own about 35.29% of the total refining capacity in FY20. India’s consumption of petroleum products is almost come back to Pre-Covid levels. Export of petroleum products from India has shown tick down due to current environment.

State run energy firms, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum and Indian Oil Corporation, plan to spend US$ 20 billion on refinery expansions to add units by 2022. Disinvestment in BPCL is ongoing. With 8,748 kms of refined products pipeline in India, IOC was leading the segment with 51.25% of the total length of product pipeline network as on March 01, 2020The Government is planning to set up around 5,000 compressed biogas (CBG) plants by 2023. The Government is planning to invest US$ 2.86 billion in the upstream oil and gas production to double natural gas production to 60 bcm and drill more than 120 exploration wells by 2022. Government of India is planning to invest Rs 70,000 crore (US$ 9.97 billion) to expand the gas pipeline network across the country.

The energy trade between India and US is likely to cross US$ 12 billion in FY22. As on April 01, 2020, there were 24,670 LPG distributors (of PSUs) in India. The total number of OMC retail outlets at 66,817 at the beginning of April 2020.Private players like Reliance Essar are also expanding their foot print day by day to compete with OMCs.

Road Ahead

Energy demand of India is anticipated to grow faster than energy demand of all major economies on the back of continuous robust economic growth.

India’s energy demand is expected to double by 2035. Primary energy consumption is projected to increase by two-fold by 2035Growth of 7-8% can be projected going forward.

BENEFICIARIES : IOC, BPCL, HPCL, ONGC, RELIANCE, GAIL