India's vision for a gas-based economy to raise gas consumption from 6.5%in 2019 to 15%by 2030 will increase the gas consumption by 600 mmscmd from today's consumption of 160 mmscmd. The single largest contributor to this growth is CGD, which will contribute 150 mmscmd.

The focus on CGD as a means to accelerate gas retailing is a very welcome step, but this has posed a big challenge for developing the corresponding infrastructure including last-mile connectivity. However, during theCOVID-19 pandemic, CGD has been the only sector, where gas consumption was not affected.

The coverage of the country's population, which will have access to natural gas, after the 10th round of bidding, has reached 71%, with coverage of more than 53%of the area. In terms of the committed work program the 9th and 10th round alone (over a period of 8 years) account for 423 Lac PNG domestic connection, 8181 CNG station and 1.74 Lac Inch-Km steel pipeline, as against the coverage before 9th round of bidding (covered over a period of 25 years) of 42 Lac PNG connections, 1400 CNG stations and, 1.0 Lac Inch-Km of steel pipeline network.

The experience has shown that major support to achieve such a tight target comes essentially from C&P as other activities of execution and supervision can be outsourced. The impediments in fast track procurement and contracting are the cumbersome GCC/SCC, inadequacy of Vendor development, slow in-house processing, time-consuming ordering and post order execution system. The answer lies in streamlining the process to reduce lead-time and to ensure fast track execution with the least dispute.

To address these issues of expeditious and hassle-free operations of C&P, Resonance Energy organizes its 4th virtual conference & exhibition on Contract and Procurement for Oil & Gas sector, on 12-13 January 2021 on Virtual platform of "FLOOR by 10Times". The conference focuses on the role of C&P to help meet the stretched target of the committed work program. The conference will deliberate various issues including application of IT (e-Tendering, Reverse Bidding, ERP, etc.) streamlining GCC and SCC with a view to reduce lead time, minimize litigations and strategies to be adopted by entities.

The program is must attend for professionals engaged in material management, contract execution, equipment suppliers, service providers, consultants, arbitrators and law firms.