Nagaland’s first CNG station was inaugurated by KG Kenye, Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs, on October 30 during the North East Energy Summit – Nagaland Energy Chapter, held at The Niathu Zone, Chümoukedima.
Promises cleaner & cheaper fuel alternative
Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 2
Nagaland’s first Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station, developed by HPOIL Gas Private Limited, was inaugurated by KG Kenye, Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs, on October 30 during the North East Energy Summit – Nagaland Energy Chapter, held at The Niathu Zone, Chümoukedima.
The station, located along Dimapur Bypass Road marks a significant milestone in the expansion of City Gas Distribution (CGD) infrastructure in Nagaland, with the objective of promoting cleaner fuel, strengthening energy infrastructure and increasing access to natural gas.
Speaking with The Morung Express, Project Head of Nagaland, HPOIL Gas Pvt Ltd, S Theiva, said CNG offers consumers a cleaner and cheaper fuel alternative, with running costs potentially reduced by around 40%.
He said the facility would particularly benefit commercial vehicle operators, including taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers, who depend on their vehicles for daily income and cover considerable distances.
Addressing concerns over the cost of converting existing vehicles to CNG, Theiva said retrofitting an auto-rickshaw could cost around INR 20,000, with the investment potentially recovered within six to seven months through savings on fuel expenses. For cars, the conversion cost could range between INR 70,000 and INR 80,000, he said.
He also encouraged consumers planning to purchase new vehicles to consider factory-fitted CNG models, such as the Tata Punch, Maruti Suzuki Victoris and Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor.
Asked about the response since the station's inauguration, Theiva said the company has started loading a few available CNG vehicles, but sales are yet to pick up due to the limited number of CNG-enabled vehicles in the state.
On the availability and consistency of natural gas supply, Theiva said HPOIL Gas and Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL) had signed a Gas Transmission Agreement on the sidelines of the North East Energy Summit.
He said the natural gas would be transported through a pipeline from Assam, with Dimapur being the initial point of supply. The network is expected to expand to Kohima and subsequently to other districts of Nagaland.
HPOIL Gas Private Limited is a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Oil India Limited (OIL), two leading Maharatna Public Sector Undertakings of the Government of India.
The company is engaged in developing City Gas Distribution infrastructure to provide clean, reliable, affordable and environment-friendly natural gas to domestic, commercial, industrial and transportation sectors through Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and CNG.
HPOIL Gas received authorisation from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) on April 19, 2024, under the 12th CGD bidding round, to develop the City Gas Distribution network across the entire state of Nagaland.
As part of its expansion plans in Nagaland, HPOIL Gas also intends to establish a City Gate Station (CGS) to support the development of its gas distribution network.
The company said its initiatives in the state are aimed at expanding access to cleaner energy, creating employment opportunities, supporting regional development and contributing to the Government of India's vision of a gas-based economy.
