New Delhi, April 23: The government on Wednesday said that 41 biogas cylinder filling and storage plants have received approvals, with licenses already issued to 14 facilities, as part of efforts to strengthen fuel infrastructure and ensure supply continuity.
According to the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), a total of 467 applications for compressed natural gas (CNG) and compressed biogas (CBG) dispensing stations were processed on priority between March 25 and April 21. Of these, 157 received final licenses, while 38 were granted prior approvals for construction.
The measures come amid ongoing global uncertainties, with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas focusing on expediting infrastructure development and maintaining uninterrupted fuel availability.
PESO has introduced several facilitative and safety-focused interventions, including temporary storage relaxations for Superior Kerosene Oil (SKO) to ensure last-mile distribution, and a complete export ban on ammonium nitrate to safeguard domestic supply.
To enhance fuel flexibility, guidelines permitting LNG filling in cryogenic cylinders have been issued, supporting decentralised distribution systems. Additionally, time-bound clearances—within 10 days—for CNG stations and decompression units have been mandated to accelerate capacity expansion.
Operational measures also include permitting LPG unloading at Porbandar jetty to ease supply constraints and a six-month exemption from approval requirements for CNG/CBG compressors to fast-track commissioning of new stations.
Further, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is implementing complementary measures aimed at ensuring industrial continuity, stabilising supply chains, and supporting manufacturing activity amid evolving geopolitical conditions.
The government said these initiatives are designed to enhance resilience across the energy ecosystem, ensuring the steady availability of fuels and critical inputs while addressing operational bottlenecks faced by industry.
