CNG prices to be cut by Rs 15 in Delhi, Ahmedabad

Compressed Natural Gas prices will be cut by about Rs 15 per kg and cooking gas piped to kitchens by about Rs 5 after government decided to supply cheaper domestic gas to fuel retailers in cities like Delhi and Ahmedabad.

Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily said the government has decided to raise allocation of natural gas from domestic fields to city gas entities to 100 per cent from current limit of 80 per cent.

This would be done by cutting supplies to non-core sectors like petrochemicals, steel and refineries.

The decision would help in reduction of prices of compressed natural gas (CNG) retailed to automobiles in cities like Delhi and Ahmedabad.

It will also bring down prices of piped cooking gas to households as cheaper domestic gas will replace costlier imported LNG that entities were using now.

"Our target is

common man... We want to give common man a relief and in a way this is an anti-inflationary measure," the Minister said.

Mumbai sources all of its gas requirement from domestic fields and as such there will be no cut in rates in the city. However, in Delhi, which presently uses as much as 28 per cent of costlier imported LNG, and cities in Gujarat like Ahmedabad which too were heavily reliant on imported fuel, will see a price cut.

"This (move) would lead to reduction in price of CNG and PNG across the country (except in those cities which are already getting 100% domestic gas like Mumbai). The price of CNG in Delhi would be reduced by about Rs 15 per kg (about 30 per cent). There will also be a reduction of about Rs 5 per cubic metres (about 20%) in the price of PNG," Moily said.

While the orders for increasing domestic gas supply to CNG entities were issued today, the decision would take 2-3 days to take a effect as gas firms tie-up and sign new supply agreements.