Natural Gas
The exploration oi natural gas is being done by the Oil and Natural Gas Commission. According to one estimate, India has a total natural gas reserve of about 450 billion cubic metres. Out of the total reserves, about 75 per cent lies in the Bombay High and the Bassein oilfields, about 12 per cent in Gujarat, 7 per cent in Andhra Pradesh and 6 per cent in Assam. Apart from Bombay High, there arc rich deposits of natural gas in Ankleshwar and Gulf of Khambat (Gujarat), Godavari and Krishna basins, the Thanjavur and Shingleput districts of Tamil Nadu. Natural gas is also found in Barmar district of Rajasthan, Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, and Firozpur district of Punjab. The trend of natural gas production in India has been shown in Table 8.6.
Table 8.6 India—Trends in Natural Gas Production
liar
Production (in million cubic metres)
1960-61
1970-71
1980-81
1990-91 2000-01
2005-06
17
76
200
12,870
20,920
25,750
Source: Statistical Abstract, India, 2006-07.
The largest share of natural gas is consumed in the production of chemical fertilisers accounting lor about 40 per cent, about 30 per cent is used in power generation, and about 10 per cent in L.P.G. (cooking gas).
After 1990, the production of natural gas has increased phenomenally, yet the production falls short of demand. Consequently, natural gas in large quantities has to be imported. Natural gas is imported from Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE. and the other Gulf countries.