India is currently the world's 3rd highest producer of CO2 and it is slowly shifting its momentum towards a cleaner gas-based economy. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) launched 9th Compressed Gas Distribution (CGD) Bidding Round on 12th April, 2018 for 86 Geographical Areas (GAs) to offer permits to sell compressed and piped natural gas. "With this, the regulator is also acting as a facilitator for the CGD network," Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said referring to the role of the PNGRB. More than 400 bids were received in respect of all the 86 GAs offered in the 9th CGD Bidding Round which covered 174 districts in 22states and union territories, i.e., 24% of India's geographical area and 29% of its population. The last date of bid submission was 10th July, 2018. The technical bids would be opened between 12th July 2018 and 18th July 2018. "This is the biggest step so far in CGD expansion, towards raising the gas share in the country's energy mix from 6.2 per cent to 15 per cent in a few years," Pradhan said. This round is estimated to bring an investment of Rs. 70,000 crores which would strengthen the economy and also generate a multitude of jobs.