India’s First SSLNG Plant in Madhya Pradesh | 23 Mar 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas dedicated to the nation India’s first small-scale liquefied natural gas (SSLNG) unit at GAIL (India) Ltd’s in Vijaipur, Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points

• The government aims to increase the share of natural gas in its primary energy mix to 15% by 2030 from a little more than 6% at present.
  • This is because natural gas is far less polluting than conventional hydrocarbons like coal and oil; it is also cheaper than oil, more than 85% of India’s requirement for which is met through costly imports.
  • Natural gas is seen as a key transition fuel in India’s journey towards green energy and future fuels.
• However, a major challenge in scaling up gas consumption lies in the transportation of gas to places that are not connected by the country’s natural gas pipeline grid.
• Small-Scale Liquefied Natural Gas (SSLNG):
  • It refers to the liquefaction of natural gas and its transportation using unconventional means in a significantly smaller-scale operation than the usual large-scale liquefaction, regasification, and transportation infrastructure and processes.
  • The SSLNG chain can start from a large-scale LNG import terminal from where the LNG, instead of being regasified and supplied through pipelines, can be transported to consumers by cryogenic road tankers or small vessels.
  • The chain can also start at locations with ample natural gas supply or production, where small liquefaction plants can be set up.
    • The SSLNG unit at Vijaipur, which is GAIL’s largest gas processing facility, is an example of the latter kind of location.