Vadodara

Gujarat Gas Company Ltd (GGCL) will add more than two lakh new household gas connections and install over 25 new CNG stations in the western Indian state of Gujarat, Energy Minister Saurabh Patel said on Sunday.

The GGCL, a new entity, is a merger between two state-run gas distribution companies – GSPC and Gujarat Gas Company – and has over one million customers, Patel said on the occasion of issuing 700 new piped gas connections to customers of new residential societies in Karelibag area of the city.

GGCL has presence across 19 districts in Gujarat and Union Territory of Dadra Nagar Haveli, and Palghar and Thane in Maharashtra.

It provides 6.5 metric million standard cubic metre per day (MMSCMD) of gas to 14,000 industrial units and 10.23 lakh domestic users, he said.

“The government enterprise would now expand gas distribution network to other states too and supply environment-friendly natural gas to domestic and industrial users as well as vehicles,” he said.

The new piped gas connections in the city are issued by Vadodara Gas Limited (VGL), a joint venture company promoted by the Vadodara Municipal corporation (VMC) and Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL).

Presently, Vadodara Gas Limited operates nine CNG stations in Vadodara and dispenses more than 65,000 kg/day CNG, catering to the consumers of automobile sector comprising buses, cars and autorickshaws.

VGL supplies Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to 76,000 houses and 2,800 commercial establishments in the city.

Both GAIL and VMC have equal shareholding participation in VGL.

Patel said if 25 per cent share of investment of GAIL is purchased by the Gujarat government, it will be easy for VGL to expand the city gas distribution network.

“Gujarat has been the leader in moving to a gas-based economy and with the GGCL, we will now help to develop city gas distribution infrastructure in other states,” Patel said.

PTI