New Delhi, June 12 -- India's natural gas consumption is projected to rise significantly over the next two decades, with demand expected to grow by around 60 percent by 2030 and more than double by 2040, according to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).

The growth trajectory reflects expanding usage across multiple sectors, including compressed natural gas for automobiles, household cooking applications, and industrial processes.

The regulatory board's analysis indicates that natural gas consumption will increase from the current level of 187 million standard cubic meters per day in 2023-24 to 297 million standard cubic meters per day by 2030 under the "Good-to-Go" scenario, which assumes moderate growth based on exis...