Natural Gas Crucial for India's Energy Security: Mehrotra

Akhil Mehrotra, Managing Director of Pipeline Infrastructure, emphasized the importance of natural gas in India's energy mix during the ET Energy Leadership Summit 2026. He stated that natural gas will remain a crucial component but its larger role depends on stronger infrastructure, diversified supply, and market-driven pricing.

Mehrotra identified three key roles for natural gas: balancing the power grid, improving urban air quality, and gradually replacing dirtier fuels across transport, industry, and households. He noted that as solar and wind capacity increases, gas-based power plants can provide flexible generation alongside battery storage, helping manage periods when renewable output falls.

However, Mehrotra highlighted several challenges facing the sector, including the absence of meaningful gas-storage capacity and diversification of LNG sourcing beyond a limited number of suppliers. He also emphasized the need for infrastructure development, citing land acquisition and right-of-way delays as major bottlenecks.