The Gujarat government on Wednesday, 20 May announced that 40,000 new domestic PNG (D-PNG) gas connections and 13,000 reconnections had been provided across the state within 2.5 months, as authorities moved to protect household and industrial gas supply amid ongoing global energy disruptions. The figures were presented at a state cabinet meeting held in Gandhinagar under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

Key Developments in Gas Connectivity

Government spokesperson and minister Jitu Vaghani told reporters after the cabinet meeting that Gujarat Energy Ltd (GEL) had rapidly scaled up domestic gas supply since 1 March. In addition to the 40,000 new D-PNG connections and 13,000 restorations, GEL also issued 500 new commercial gas connections during the same period.

Across all city gas distribution companies operating in the state, the collective count stood at approximately 85,000 D-PNG connections and 1,100 commercial connections during this window — underlining the scale of the state-wide push.

Priority Connections for Public Institutions

The state government directed that gas connections be provided on a priority basis to institutions serving the general public, including hospitals, hostels, schools, colleges, and factory canteens. GEL alone extended 110 such priority connections, while other city gas distributors added another 225, according to Vaghani.

Morbi Ceramic Industry Revival

The cabinet meeting also reviewed the situation in Morbi's ceramic industry, which had faced significant disruptions earlier this year following a sharp rise in raw material prices and transportation costs. Several factory owners voluntarily suspended operations during the second fortnight of March, reducing the number of active factories to 83 by 31 March.

Describing Morbi's ceramic sector as 'the pride of the entire country', Vaghani said the state government responded swiftly. Within 1.5 months, more than 670 factories in Morbi had resumed operations. Currently, around 865 industrial units in Morbi are connected to GEL's gas pipeline network.

Gas Sourcing and Price Stability

Vaghani said GEL procured natural gas from markets outside the Middle East in line with instructions from the central government, ensuring supply continuity despite the regional conflict situation. The company also held discussions with the Morbi Ceramic Association and assured industrial units that gas prices for May would remain stable — a commitment that, according to the minister, helped restore industrial confidence and activity in the region.

With global energy markets remaining volatile, the state government's focus will be on sustaining these supply levels through the coming months while managing procurement costs.