Gas-based economy is need of the hour for India: PM in Haldi
By TIOL News Service
KOLKATA, FEB 08, 2021: PRIME Minister Mr Narendra Modi on Sunday said the government is focusing on reducing the cost of natural gas and expanding the pipeline network to help turn Indian into a gas-based economy, as he inaugurated a number of oil and gas projects in West Bengal.
"A gas-based economy is the need of the hour for India," Mr Modi said, emphasising the importance of the availability of clean fuel under the 'One Nation, One Gas Grid' scheme.
On his visit to Haldia, the PM dedicated the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) import terminal built by Bharat Petroleum built at a cost of Rs. 11,000 crore, and the 348-km Dobhi-Durgapur stretch of the Jagdishpur-Haldia natural gas pipeline with a price tag of Rs. 2,443 crore.
He also laid the foundation stone of the second catalytic dewaxing unit of Haldia Refinery and inaugurated a four-lane flyover at Ranichak.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that eastern India is taking major steps to achieve Aatmanirbharta (self-sufficiency) of connectivity and availability of clean fuel.
"These four projects will improve both ease of living and ease of doing business in the region," he said, adding "These projects will also help Haldia to grow into a major hub of export-import."
Reforms in the petroleum sector in recent years have helped India become one of the biggest gas consumers in Asia, said the Prime Minister. The government's Hydrogen Mission was also announced to promote cheap and clean energy.
In her Budget 2021-22 speech, Finance Minister Ms Nirmala Sitharaman announced the National Hydrogen Mission that will capitalise on generating hydrogen from green power sources to reduce India's carbon footprint.