Natural Gas Consumption Begins To Recover This Month: Report

Manoj Jain, chairman of GAIL (India) said that gas consumption in April and May fell by about 10 per cent to 15 per cent compared to a 50 per cent reduction last year

The country's natural gas consumption is recovering in June after declining in the previous two months, as states ease restrictions in the wake of a drop in coronavirus infections, officials said on Wednesday. "In the Indian market there was some slowdown, but the situation is not as bad as last year," Manoj Jain, chairman of GAIL (India), the country's biggest gas pipeline operator, said at a news briefing to announce quarterly results. He said gas consumption in April and May fell by about 10 per cent to 15 per cent compared to a 50 per cent reduction last year when there was a nationwide lockdown to stem the spread of the virus. Instead of a national lockdown, the state governments imposed their own restrictions to stem the spread of deadly second wave of COVID-19. The states, however, started this month to ease the curbs after the decline in reported infections. Gas consumption has returned to its normal level in the last week, Jain said. The COVID-19 pandemic, globally and in India, is causing "significant disturbance in economic and business activities. It has also temporarily impacted the business activities of the Company," GAIL said in a stock exchange filing.