Central Idea

The Centre plans to enhance its domestic energy sustainability by introducing mandatory blending of compressed biogas (CBG) with Natural Gas.

Mandatory Biogas Blending

This initiative aims to reduce the country’s reliance on natural gas imports and lower emissions.

Initial Phase (April 2025): The mandatory blending of CBG with natural gas will begin at 1%. This blend will be suitable for use in automobiles and households.
Progressive Increase (By 2028): The government plans to gradually increase the mandatory blending percentage to around 5% by 2028. This step will further reduce the dependence on pure natural gas.

India is among the world’s largest importers of oil and gas, with nearly half of its gas consumption relying on imports.
The blending initiative is designed to curb import costs and enhance energy security.

These measures align with India’s broader objective of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.

	Biogas	Natural Gas	LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas)
Composition	Organic matter decomposition (mainly methane and CO2).	Fossil fuel (primarily methane).	Byproduct of natural gas processing (propane, butane).
Production	Anaerobic digestion of organic waste.	Extracted from underground, requires refining.	Obtained during natural gas processing and refining.
Energy Content	Lower due to high CO2 content.	High, efficient for heating and power.	High per volume, efficient in liquefied state.
Environmental Impact	Renewable, carbon-neutral.	Cleaner than coal/oil, but emits greenhouse gases.	Fewer pollutants than gasoline/diesel, emits greenhouse gases.
Uses	Heating, electricity, vehicle fuel, cooking in rural areas.	Heating, electricity, industrial processes, vehicle fuel.	Heating, cooking, vehicles, industrial applications.
Storage/Transport	Stored as gas or liquid; requires tanks.	Pipelines for gas; LNG for long-distance.	Pressurized tanks as liquid.