ABB India and THINK Gas Partner to Enhance City Gas Distribution Through Automation

ABB India Ltd. has completed the commissioning of its ABB Ability™ SCADAvantage solution for THINK Gas Pvt. Ltd., supporting the digitalization and automation of THINK Gas’s city gas distribution (CGD) network across ten Indian states.

The CGD network operates in 19 geographical areas across Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. It includes over 500 compressed natural gas (CNG) stations, approximately 550,000 domestic piped natural gas (D-PNG) connections, and around 17,000 inch-km of steel pipelines serving industrial and commercial customers.

THINK Gas has implemented ABB’s cloud-based SCADA platform to centralize monitoring and control of its gas distribution operations from a control room in Chennai. The system supports functions such as pressure and flow monitoring, gas reconciliation, billing, and price management. It also enables data collection and operational oversight across the network, contributing to improved process efficiency and decision-making.

According to THINK Gas, the implementation has led to a reduction in operational costs, with operator-related expenses decreasing by up to 60%. The company noted improvements in response times and consistency in managing operational parameters.

Chiradeep Datta, Director and Chief Operating Officer at THINK Gas, stated, “Our collaboration with ABB India supports our efforts to modernize gas distribution infrastructure. The automation system helps improve operational efficiency and provides better visibility across our network.”

G. Balaji, Senior Vice President of the Energy Industries division at ABB India, said the SCADAvantage solution is being increasingly adopted across India’s CGD sector. “ABB’s technology is currently used in about 80% of the country’s city gas distribution networks. As demand for natural gas grows, digital solutions can support more efficient and reliable energy distribution,” he said.

India aims to increase the share of natural gas in its primary energy mix to 15% by 2030, up from current levels. Over the past decade, the country has expanded its CGD infrastructure to supply piped natural gas for residential and commercial use and CNG for transportation.

ABB is a global technology company operating in electrification, automation, and digitalization. It serves industries including energy, manufacturing, and transport, with a focus on improving efficiency and sustainability. The company employs approximately 110,000 people worldwide and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and Nasdaq Stockholm. ABB’s Process Automation business provides solutions for industrial operations in sectors such as oil and gas, chemicals, and utilities.

THINK Gas operates in the city gas distribution sector in India, holding 19 CGD licenses from the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB). The company provides CNG and piped natural gas services across 50 districts in ten states. Its network is expected to expand to over 24,000 inch-km of pipelines and more than 2,000 CNG stations in the coming years. THINK Gas has received foreign direct investment from I-Squared Capital and a consortium of Japanese firms, including Osaka Gas, JOIN, Sumitomo Corporation, and Konoike Transport.