Domestic natural gas demand declined by 5.5 per cent in 2020-21, hitting a three-year low. The fall in demand can be attributed to Covid-19 linked lockdowns and restrictions. Owing to the decline in demand from the industrial and transport sector, gas consumption fell to 60.6 million billion cubic meters (bcm) during the financial year. Meanwhile, gas imports declined by three per cent to 33 bcm but the share of imports in domestic consumption rose to 54 per cent from 53 per cent in the previous year.
The nationwide lockdown at the beginning of fiscal year 2020-21 and local lockdowns for much of the year had a major impact on city gas demand. City gas suppliers recorded a 15 per cent drop in gas demand during the year while the power and fertiliser sectors witnessed a two per cent and 14 per cent drop, respectively.