Archive · 9 Aug 2026
GOBARdhan Scheme to reduce gas imports by USD 5 billion
India buys a lot of natural gas from other countries because it cannot make enough of its own.
Right now, about half of the gas India needs comes from other countries.
A group called the Indian Biogas Association says a government program can help India buy much less gas.
The program is called GOBARdhan, and it turns waste like cow dung and leftover crops into clean fuel called biogas.
The association thinks this could save India around USD 5 billion on gas imports.
The program also creates natural fertilizer from the waste, so farmers would need fewer chemical fertilizers from abroad.
That could save India about USD 1 billion more because it would not need to import as much fertilizer.
It could also create jobs in villages and help stop farmers from burning old crops, which causes air pollution.
Overall, GOBARdhan turns trash into energy, jobs, and cleaner air.
The Indian Biogas Association (IBA) expects the government's ₹23,731-crore GOBARdhan Scheme to reduce India's natural gas import bill by USD 5 billion.
GOBARdhan is a circular bioenergy initiative that converts organic waste such as agricultural residue and cow dung into clean energy.
India imports about 50 per cent of its natural gas needs, and its LNG import bill stood at USD 15.2 billion in FY 2024-25.
With a conservative estimate of 1,500 functional compressed biogas (CBG) plants, IBA says the natural gas trade deficit could shrink by at least one-third.
The scheme could reduce fertiliser imports by at least 5 per cent, contributing USD 1 billion to current account deficit reduction, along with rural jobs and less open burning of biomass.
- Who
- Indian Biogas Association (IBA), commenting on the Government of India's GOBARdhan Scheme.
- What
- The IBA expects the scheme to cut India's natural gas import bill by USD 5 billion by converting organic waste into clean bioenergy.
- When
- The statement was made on Sunday, August 9, 2026, citing FY 2024-25 import data.
- Where
- India, with the announcement from New Delhi and environmental benefits noted for the NCR region.
- Why
- To reduce India's 50 per cent dependence on imported natural gas, lower trade and current account deficits, cut fertiliser imports, and support rural development.
- Scheme
- GOBARdhan (Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan)
- Financial outlay
- ₹23,731 crore
- Expected gas import savings
- USD 5 billion
- Natural gas import dependence
- 50 per cent
- LNG import bill (FY 2024-25)
- USD 15.2 billion (approx ₹1.28 lakh crore)
- Fertiliser import bill (FY 2024-25)
- USD 18 billion (approx ₹1.5 lakh crore)
- Expected CBG plants
- 1,500 (conservative estimate)
- Expected fertiliser import reduction
- At least 5 per cent (approx USD 1 billion)
