According to a study by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, India's usage of natural gas is expected to more than double by the year 2040

India's consumption of natural gas is expected to increase by nearly 60% by 2030 and more than double by 2040, fueled by heightened demand in city gas distribution, transportation, and industrial sectors. A report from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) indicates that usage is set to rise from 187 million standard cubic meters per day (mmscmd) in 2023-24 to 297 mmscmd by 2030 and 496 mmscmd by 2040 under the 'Good-to-Go' scenario, which assumes moderate growth in line with current policies. In a more positive 'Good-to-Best' scenario, natural gas consumption could achieve 365 mmscmd by 2030 and 630 mmscmd by 2040. City Gas Distribution (CGD), which includes compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles and piped natural gas for residences and industries, is anticipated to be the main driver of demand, contributing 87 mmscmd by 2030 and 129 mmscmd by 2040 under the baseline scenario. CGD is projected to represent 29% of total demand in 2030 and 44% by 2040. The government is aiming to increase the share of natural gas in the energy mix from 7% to 15% by 2030 to help achieve the net zero target by 2070. Fertilizer consumption is forecasted to grow modestly from 58 mmscmd in 2023-24 to 72.9 mmscmd by 2040, while natural gas use in refineries and petrochemicals may nearly double to 43.3 mmscmd by 2030. As India fulfills half of its gas requirements through imports, liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand is also anticipated to more than double by 2030. LNG trucking is expected to gain popularity after 2030, providing an alternative to diesel and reflecting China's success in reducing emissions in long-haul transport.