New gas supply expected from the US and Qatar over the next 1.5 years months could ease global prices and support higher natural gas consumption in India, according to Akhil Mehrotra, managing director of Pipeline Infrastructure Ltd (PIL).
“With more gas becoming available globally, prices are likely to come down. That is good news for India and for increasing gas consumption,” he said while speaking with ETEnergyWorld on the sidelines of India Energy Week (IEW) 2026 in Goa on Wednesday.
Mehrotra said that global supply additions were likely to ease prices and create a strong window for demand growth over the next few years.
However, he stressed that infrastructure must keep pace with supply. “Pipelines are being developed, but we need more transmission lines, more sub-transmission lines and a faster rollout of distribution networks. City gas needs to reach more parts of the country at a quicker pace,” he said.
He also highlighted the need to deepen gas trading and market mechanisms, noting that a combination of lower international prices, stronger infrastructure and a broader customer base would be key demand drivers.
Mehrotra said that the company has grown at a compounded annual growth rate of about 30 per cent over the past five years, attributing the performance to operational discipline and workforce engagement. Looking ahead to 2026, he said the company’s key objective is to grow the business multifold, especially in transmission and allied fields of gas.
