17 Apr 2026
Despite two decades of effort, only 16.2 million Indian homes, about 5% of all households, are connected to PNG, while over 330 million still rely on LPG.
India consumes 26.5 million metric tonnes (mmt) of LPG annually but produces only 12.8 mmt. Since 90% of crude is imported, even domestic LPG is indirectly tied to global volatility.
Although PNG networks are authorised across 307 geographical areas covering 98% of the population, last‑mile challenges, such as road digging, permissions, building constraints, and landlord approvals, slow actual household onboarding. Only 63% of installed PNG connections are active.
City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies, operating as local monopolies, prioritise industrial and CNG demand over households due to better economics. Meanwhile, domestic APM gas, critical for affordable PNG, is limited and declining, thus pushing companies toward costlier LNG.
The recent West Asian war disrupted the LPG supply chain, prompting several Indian states, such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Gujarat, to accelerate PNG network expansion. However, until infrastructure, supply, and economics align, PNG for every kitchen will remain aspirational.
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