India imports over 85% 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 ~900 to ~7,000 and piped-gas homes up six-fold over a decade.
Oil, Gas & Energy Security
Oil, Gas & Energy Security
India imports over 85% 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 roughly nine-fold (from ~900 to ~7,000), piped-gas home connections rose six-fold, and gas networks now cover nearly 98% of the population. India aims to raise gas to 15% of its energy mix by 2030. The counter shows CNG stations.
~7,000
CNG stations (9x since FY14)
~98%
Population under gas grid
85%+
Crude oil imported
CNG stations
| Year | CNG stations |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 900 stations |
| 2015 | 1,000 stations |
| 2016 | 1,100 stations |
| 2017 | 1,350 stations |
| 2018 | 1,650 stations |
| 2019 | 2,200 stations |
| 2020 | 2,900 stations |
| 2021 | 3,800 stations |
| 2022 | 5,000 stations |
| 2023 | 5,900 stations |
| 2024 | 7,000 stations |
| 2025 | 8,400 stations |
| by 2034 | 18,336 stations — Govt target |
2014
0stations
CNG stations
20142025
Since 2014
Added
+7,500 stations
2014
900 stations
2025
8,400 stations
Govt target
18,336 stations
by 2034
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: ~900 (2014) → ~7,000 (2024); ~9x
- Gas grid covers ~98% of population; target 15% of energy by 2030
- Source: PNGRB / MoP&NG
History
Gas & green fuels
Gas grids now reach ~98% of the population, ethanol blending in petrol crossed 15%, 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 roughly 85% of its crude oil, energy security is mostly about managing that dependence. The strategy has several strands: diversifying suppliers (adding discounted Russian crude, the Gulf, the US and Africa 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.
The road ahead
The long-term balance ahead is energy security, affordability and the shift away from fossil fuels — with crude-import dependence still high, easing that exposure is the ongoing work.
By the numbers
CNG stations ~900 → ~7,000; gas grid ~98% of population; crude imports 85%+; gas target 15% of energy by 2030. Source: PNGRB / MoP&NG.
Source: PNGRB / MoP&NG — CNG stations in India, 2014–2025.