November 20, 2001

'20'

RAJYA SABHA

UTILISATION OF NATURAL GAS

    The Minister of State for Petroleium and Natural Gas, Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar today informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that during the current financial year 2001-02 (upto September, 2001 )the average natural gas utilisation in the country is of the order of 76.20 million standard cubic meters per day (MMSCMD), which includes around 10.20 MMSCMD utilised for internal consumption by the gas producing companies.

    Shri Gangwar said presently, around 3.52 MMSCMD of natural gas is being processed for production of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the LPG processing plants at Duliyajan & Lakwa in Assam, Vijaipur in MP, Usar in Maharashtra, Auraiya in UP and Vaghodia and Gandhar in Gujarat. In view of the existing commitments for supply of natural gas to consumers, there are no plans to increase its processing for LPG production.

    He added, an allocation of the order of 118.67 MMSCMD of natural gas has been allocated to consumers in various sectors for utilisation in the country. However, the present availability of natural gas is around 65 MMSCMD only.