The number of LPG connections in India has more than doubled from 14.52 crore in 2014 to 32.83 crore in 2024, marking over a 100% growth, according to the Year-End Review released by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Tuesday. This growth reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance energy access, efficiency, and sustainability in the country.
A significant contributor to this expansion is the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), which has provided 10.33 crore LPG connections to economically weaker households, enabling them to access cooking gas at a subsidized price. All Ujjwala beneficiaries will receive a targeted subsidy of Rs. 300 per cylinder. Since the scheme’s inception, around 222 crore LPG refills have been delivered to PMUY households, with 13 lakh refills being taken daily.
The per capita LPG consumption among Ujjwala families has also increased, rising from 3.01 cylinders in 2019-20 to 3.95 in 2023-24, with the current year’s consumption projected at 4.34 cylinders on a pro-rata basis till October 2024.
The PAHAL scheme, which directly transfers LPG subsidies to eligible consumers, now has 30.43 crore enrolled customers. Over 1.14 crore individuals have voluntarily given up their subsidies under the “GiveItUp” campaign. The number of LPG distributors has also grown significantly from 13,896 in 2014 to 25,532 in 2024, with over 90% of new distributors serving rural areas, improving access to clean cooking fuel.
In addition to the growth in LPG connections, the length of operational natural gas pipelines in the country has increased from 15,340 km in 2014 to 24,945 km by 2024, with another 10,805 km under development. Once completed, these pipelines will form a national gas grid, connecting major demand and supply centres across India.
In the biofuels sector, ethanol supplies have increased from 38 crore litters in 2013-14 to 707.40 crore liters in 2023-24 under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, achieving a petrol blending rate of 16.23% as of December 2024. Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are now dispensing E20 petrol (20% ethanol) at over 17,400 retail outlets nationwide. The EBP program has saved Rs. 1,08,600 crore in foreign exchange over the past decade and reduced CO2 emissions by 557 lakh metric tonnes.
In terms of exploration and production, the Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy (HELP) has been instrumental in allocating 144 blocks for oil and gas exploration. Gas production increased from 34.45 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) in FY 2022-23 to 36.44 BCM in FY 2023-24, with 741 wells drilled by March 2024.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas continues to advance India’s energy security, promoting cleaner and more sustainable energy sources while expanding the country’s energy infrastructure.
