Pradhan inaugurates India’s First CNG Mobile Refuelling Units

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel, Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday inaugurated India’s first CNG Mobile Refueling Unit (MRU) developed by Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL), through online. He also dedicated to the nation a total of 201 CNG stations in the country, out of which 54 have been set up by IGL. These 54 CNG stations of IGL are spread over 4 States/UTs –Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. 21 of these stations are located in Delhi, 6 in Ghaziabad, 6 in Gurugram, 4 in Karnal, 3 in Kaithal, 3 in Rewari, 4 in Kanpur, 2 in Meerut, 2 in Gautam Budh Nagar, 1 in Hapur and 2 in Ajmer. The minister also inaugurated PNG supply in Jhansi and another MRU developed by MGL during the function. 

Asserting that the future of fuel retail is mobile, Pradhan spoke about various measures to give boost to this ecosystem including setting up mobile refilling CNG facility. He also outlined the benefits of mobile fuel retailing which includes cost advantage as well as advantage in terms of reaching out to consumers at shopping malls, offices and other places. He also said that going forward, mobile battery swapping should also be explored. “We are bringing in innovation in energy retailing and making it mobile and delivering at the doorsteps”,Pradhan added. 

Amit Garg, Director (Commercial), IGL said, “The concept of MRUs shall go a long way in enhancing the customer experience when CNG fueling facility would be available at the doorstep”. He thanked the minister for his visionary idea of developing MRUs, which has seen light of the day today. Garg informed that IGL had showcased a prototype of MRU for the first time during National Conclave on Emerging Opportunities in Natural Gas Sector on 23rd January 2021. Subsequently, taking inputs from all the stakeholders including Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation, IGL had embarked on developing the first model, which has been approved by PESO. He highlighted that MRU developed by IGL is fitted with 55 lightweight Type IV Cylinders, which can store upto 1500 kg CNG and fill 150 to 200 vehicles in a day.