Discuss the role of natural gas as a "transition fuel" in India's pathway to net zero, and the challenges in reaching a 15% gas share by 2030.

Natural gas makes up only 6–7% of India's energy mix, and the government wants to raise this to 15% by 2030 [1][2]. It emits less than coal and oil, so it can act as a bridge while India moves from fossil fuels to renewables on the way to Net Zero 2070.

Role as a transition fuel

• Cleaner substitute: gas is a lower-pollution fuel that can replace coal, diesel and naphtha in industry, fertilisers and transport [1].
• Grid balancing: gas plants can start up quickly, so they can cover the times when solar and wind output drops.
• Urban air quality: CNG for vehicles and piped gas (PNG) for cooking cut local pollution and reduce the use of solid fuels.
• Path to renewable gas: compressed biogas (CBG) under GOBARdhan aims to raise output from 0.4 to 4–6 mmscmd, replace about 10 Mt of fossil fuel and avoid more than 40 Mt of CO₂ [1]. This uses the same gas network, so the "transition" can become green gas over time.

Challenges in reaching 15%

• Import dependence: much of India's gas is imported LNG, which exposes it to global price swings and geopolitical risk.
• Affordability: gas power costs more than domestic coal, so it is hard to sell to price-sensitive electricity distribution companies and industries.
• Infrastructure gaps: pipelines and city gas networks are still uneven, especially in the east and northeast.
• Execution record: SATAT (2018) planned 5,000 CBG plants by 2023–24 [3], with about ₹2 lakh crore of investment expected [4]. Only a small fraction of these plants were actually built.
• Supply-side issues: feedstock collection, selling the manure by-product, and getting finance remain weak links.

Way forward

• Increase domestic gas exploration and build strategic gas storage.
• Complete the national gas grid and expand city gas distribution.
• De-risk CBG through Priority Sector Lending [5] and guaranteed offtake [1].
• Link part of the subsidy to gas actually delivered, not just to plant capacity.

Natural gas is a practical bridge for India: it cuts emissions now and makes room for renewable gas later. Reaching 15% will need affordable supply, wider infrastructure and better delivery of CBG projects. Done well, it supports SDG-7 (affordable and clean energy) and India's commitment to Net Zero by 2070.