India imports about 88% of its crude oil, leaving it exposed to price shocks. The response has leaned on cleaner natural gas: a big push on City Gas Distribution took CNG stations from 1,010 in 2015 to 8,916 in 2026 and piped-gas homes up six-fold, from 25 lakh to over 1.59 crore.
Oil, Gas & Energy Security
Oil, Gas & Energy Security
India imports about 88% of its crude oil, so energy security is a national priority — and cleaner natural gas is a big part of the answer. City Gas Distribution has expanded dramatically: CNG stations grew nearly nine-fold (from 1,010 in March 2015 to 8,916 in March 2026), piped-gas home connections rose six-fold (from 25 lakh to over 1.59 crore), and city-gas networks are now authorised across 307 areas covering almost the whole country. India aims to raise gas to 15% of its energy mix by 2030. The counter shows CNG stations.
8,916
CNG stations (March 2026)
~100%
Land area authorised for city gas
~88%
Crude oil imported
CNG stations (March 2015 → March 2026)
| Year | CNG stations |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1,010 stations |
| 2016 | 1,081 stations |
| 2017 | 1,233 stations |
| 2018 | 1,424 stations |
| 2019 | 1,730 stations |
| 2020 | 2,208 stations |
| 2021 | 3,095 stations |
| 2022 | 4,433 stations |
| 2023 | 5,665 stations |
| 2024 | 6,861 stations |
| 2025 | 8,067 stations |
| 2026 | 8,916 stations |
| by 2032 | 18,336 stations — Govt target |
2015
0stations
CNG stations
20152026
Since 2015
Added
+7,906 stations
2015
1,010 stations
2026
8,916 stations
Govt target
18,336 stations
by 2032
PNGRB minimum work programme
Why it matters Cleaner, home-produced gas cuts oil imports, pollution and costs — a cheaper, greener fuel for transport, cooking and industry.
- CNG stations: 1,010 (2015) → 8,916 (2026); ~9x
- City gas authorised across 307 areas (~100% of land area); target 15% of energy by 2030
- Source: PNGRB / MoP&NG
History
Gas & green fuels
City-gas networks are now authorised across almost the whole country, ethanol blending in petrol reached the E20 goal in 2025, and strategic petroleum reserves and green hydrogen add resilience. India aims to lift gas to 15% of its energy mix by 2030.
How it works
Because India imports about 88% of its crude oil, energy security is mostly about managing that dependence. The strategy has several strands: diversifying suppliers (buying from the Middle East, Africa, North and South America and beyond so no single source has leverage), building strategic reserves as a buffer, boosting domestic exploration, and cutting oil demand by pushing gas, ethanol and electric vehicles — each barrel not imported improving the balance.
Outlook
The long-term balance ahead is energy security versus the clean-energy transition. Near-term, India is diversifying crude sources and expanding strategic reserves; medium-term, it is raising natural gas to 15% of the energy mix as a cleaner bridge fuel and pushing ethanol blending; long-term, renewables, green hydrogen and EVs are meant to steadily shrink the import bill — the single biggest lever on India's trade deficit and rupee.
By the numbers
CNG stations 1,010 → 8,916 (March 2015 → March 2026); PNG homes 25 lakh → 1.59 crore; city gas authorised in 307 areas; crude imports ~88%; gas target 15% of energy by 2030. Source: PNGRB; MoPNG; PIB.
Data current to: 31 March 2026
Source: Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (Indian Petroleum & Natural Gas Statistics) and PNGRB — CNG stations in India at 31 March each year: 1,010 (2015), 1,081 (2016), 1,233 (2017), 1,424 (2018), 1,730 (2019), 2,208 (2020), 3,095 (2021), 4,433 (2022), 5,665 (2023), 6,861 (2024), 8,067 (2025) and 8,916 (2026), against a minimum work programme of 18,336 stations by 2032 (PNGRB, March 2026, linked). No dated official count was found for March 2014. · link