INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Government will simplify the gas pipeline tariffIndia is simplifying its gas pipeline tariff structure to make the fuel more affordable and
to attract investment for building gas infrastructure in the country, oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Wednesday
Use of gas is also set to rise as India wants to push local manufacturing to cut costly imports and lift its battered economy
Mr Pradhan said the new tariff structure would help to create a single gas market in the country by attracting investment to complete the
gas grid and make it more easily accessible
He did not provide more details of the new pricing structure.The oil minister said India's current "zonal" tariff rates for gas pipelines
resulted in higher transportation charges and had hindered development of gas markets and demand centres in remote areas
India, the world's fourth biggest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), is spending $60 billion to strengthen its gas infrastructure
that includes expanding the pipeline network and building gas import terminals."A level playing field (for tariffs) among the industries
across the country will help in minimising their input cost and improve their competitiveness in global production," Pradhan, speaking at a
joint webinar with International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol, said.He said new rationalised tariff would help to promote faster
development of city gas project to connect households, industries and transport sectors with gas network.(This story has not been edited by
TheIndianSubcontinent staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
