PM Modi says government is working on mission mode to increase natural gas consumption in India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India Energy Week 2023 at Bengaluru in Karnataka today. The three-day event is aimed at showcasing India’s rising prowess as an energy transition powerhouse. Speaking at the event, Prime Minister urged global investors to explore investment opportunities in India’s energy sector. Mr Modi said, India is one of strongest voices in the world in energy transition. He said, the government is working on mission mode to increase natural gas consumption in India’s energy mix by 2030. Prime Minister said, India has fourth-largest crude refining capacity in the world.
He said, India’s gas pipeline network will expand to 35,000 km in next four-five years from 22,000 km at present. Prime Minister said, no-go area for oil and gas exploration has been reduced by 10 lakh square kilometers. Mr Modi said India is moving towards target of 20 percent ethanol blending with petrol. Prime Minister said, another sector in which India is taking lead in the world is that of green hydrogen. He said, National Green Hydrogen Mission will give a new direction to 21st century India. Prime Minister also launched the twin-cooktop model of the Indian Oil’s Indoor Solar Cooking System and flagged-off its commercial roll-out.
Mr Modi said, the solar cooktop launched today is going to give a new dimension to Green and Clean Cooking in India. He said, circular economy, in a way, is a part of the lifestyle of every Indian. PM said, crores of people have come out of poverty and entered middle class. He said India has become the second largest producer of mobile phones. At around 3:30 PM, Mr Modi will dedicate to the nation the HAL helicopter factory at Tumakuru. Its foundation stone was also laid by the Prime Minister in 2016. This helicopter factory is Asia’s largest helicopter manufacturing facility and will initially produce the Light Utility Helicopters (LUH). LUH is an indigenously designed and developed 3-ton class, single engine multipurpose utility helicopter with unique feature of high manoeuvrability.
The factory will be expanded to manufacture other helicopters such as Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Indian Multirole Helicopter (IMRH) as well as for repair and overhaul of LCH, LUH, Civil ALH and IMRH in the future. The factory also has the potential for exporting the Civil LUHs in future. Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of Tumakuru Industrial Township. Under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme, development of the Industrial Township spread across 8484 acre in three phases in Tumakuru has been taken up as part of Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor.