Wednesday, April 27, 2011

An alternative to nuclear fuel


·         Natural gas half the carbon content of coala dn its extraction requires elsser water than that of coal
·         In power sector, natural gas based power plants have a hgiher efficiency factor(electricity generated: heat content of fuel) than coal based plants
·         In developed countries natural gas makes up 25% of energuy basket while in India it is less than 10%
·         Natural gas came into limelight first in 1960s with finds in cambay basin
·         In 1997 government opened up exploration to private sector through new exploration and licensisng policy
·         Coal bed methane: gas floating above coal seams is called CBM
o   It is a high calorific content fuel
·         CBM projects are considered for carbonc redit under CDM
DEMAND
·         India produces nearly 170 mmscm per day
·         But demand is twice that of domestic supply
·         It is cheaper to export natural gas through pipelines than as LNG
o   India has LNG terminals at dahej(PetroNET LNG, 5 btu cap) and hazira(SHELL, 2.5 btu cap)
o   2 more proposed at kochi and pipavav
·         Also it is cheaper to make use of domestic antural gas then imported antural ags
WAY AHEAD
·         Accelerate exploration of natural gas and CBMs
·         Increase imports through pipelines

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