At present, CBG is largely being supplied to consumers through cascades rather than pipelines. (Representative image)NEW DELHI: India’s push to increase the use of compressed biogas (CBG) in city gas networks faces a major infrastructure hurdle as 405 CBG plants - including 148 functional and 257 under construction - have no pipeline connectivity planned, according to a PNGRB report.The issue assumes significance with govt sharply raising the CBG blending obligation of city gas companies from 1% in FY26 to 3% in FY27, 4% in FY28 and 5% in FY29. The report comes days after Union Cabinet approved the Rs 23,731 crore GOBARdhan scheme to promote CBG production from agricultural residue, cattle dung, municipal organic waste and other biomass.The higher mandates will require CBG blending of 1.03 million standard cubic metres per day (MMSCMD) in FY27, 1.54 MMSCMD in FY28 and 2.07 MMSCMD in FY29.The PNGRB’s Connectivity and Performance Report of CBG for FY 2025-26 shows that of 207 functional plants, only 24 were already connected to pipelines. Connectivity work was in progress at 15 plants and proposals had been initiated for another 20, while 148 had no connectivity planned.The situation is more pronounced among plants under construction. Of 328 such plants, only two were already connected to pipelines, 17 had connectivity work in progress and 52 had initiated proposals. As many as 257 plants had no pipeline connectivity planned.At present, CBG is largely being supplied to consumers through cascades rather than pipelines. Of the 74 functional plants for which offtake data was available, 54 supplied CBG through cascades, accounting for 65.7% of offtake, while pipeline-based offtake accounted for only 8.9%.With India making efforts to reduce dependence on imported fuel, CBG is expected to play an important role. It is chemically equivalent to natural gas and can be seamlessly integrated into the existing gas ecosystem. It combines the benefits of a renewable fuel with the reach and utility of India’s expanding gas infrastructure.The connectivity gap comes at a time when the existing blending target itself has not been fully met. CNG and domestic PNG sales stood at 12,033 MMSCM in FY26, while CBG sales were 111.48 MMSCM, resulting in blending of 0.9% against the mandated 1%.The report projects CNG and PNG demand to grow at a compound annual rate of 7.9% over the next three years. With the blending obligation rising to 3%, 4% and 5%, CBG demand from the city gas distribution sector is expected to rise correspondingly.