INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
India is the world's third biggest emitter of greenhouse gasesNEW DELHI: India has invited bids in an auction for licences to supply
natural gas to households, automobiles and small industries in some areas of five states, an official statement said on Friday, as the
country pushes to cut its carbon emissions
India, the world's third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, has set a 2070 goal for net zero carbon emissions.Prime Minister Narendra
Modi is targeting raising the share of natural gas in India's energy mix to 15 per cent by 2030 from the current 6.2 per cent
Natural gas, while still a fossil fuel, emits less CO2 than coal.The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board on Friday set a deadline of
April 6 to submit bids for city gas distribution (CGD) authorisation for areas offered in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar
Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.The board has so far awarded CGD licences for some areas of 27 states and union territories covering 70 per cent of
India's population, and is in the process of finalising winners for its previous round, in which 26 entities had submitted bids for 61
geographical areas.After bids in the latest rounds are finalised, about 88 per cent of the country's area will be authorized for the
development of the CGD Network, providing access to natural gas to about 98 per cent of India's population, the board said in the
