In June 2024, India's natural gas sector experienced significant growth, with LNG imports increasing by 13.6% to 2704 million standard cubic meters (MMSCM) compared to the same month the previous year, as reported by the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC). Gross natural gas production for June reached 2993 MMSCM, marking a 2.9% rise from June 2023.
The total natural gas available for sale also saw a notable increase, reaching 5195 MMSCM, which was an 8.7% rise from the previous year. During the month, the total consumption amounted to 6249 MMSCM. Of this, the fertilizer sector accounted for 27%, city gas distribution (CGD) used 20%, and the power sector consumed 18%. Refineries and petrochemicals made up 7% and 5% of the consumption, respectively. After accounting for internal consumption and flaring by gas producers, the net production available for sale was approximately 83.26% of the gross production.
In terms of sectoral consumption, the power sector saw the most significant growth, with consumption increasing by 40.8% year-on-year to 3307 MMSCM. The CGD sector reported a 16.6% increase, with consumption rising to 3722 MMSCM. The refinery sector's consumption grew by 27.7% to 1585 MMSCM, while the petrochemical sector experienced an 8.2% increase, reaching 727 MMSCM. The 'others' category, which encompasses various sectors, grew by 31.4%, totaling 4464 MMSCM.
For the first quarter of FY 2023-24, total consumption reached 18773 MMSCM, reflecting an 18.4% increase compared to the same period the previous year, highlighting the growing demand and evolving consumption trends in India's natural gas sector.
