As conflict in the Middle East continues to put pressure on global energy supplies, the government is seeking to more quickly expand pipelined natural gas deliveries across the country.
But the plan faces a major hurdle. A shortage of certified gas plumbers has slowed the rollout, with the city’s gas distribution companies currently adding only 8,000 to 10,000 home connections a day, far short of the government’s target of 100,000 daily connections.The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has set a target of providing 125 million local connections in Papua New Guinea by 2030. However, industry executives say a shortage of trained manpower for last-mile facilities has emerged as a major bottleneck in the rollout.In cities like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad, more than 6 million homes already have PNG pipelines laid at their doorsteps but are still dependent on LPG cylinders as installation work inside homes is still incomplete.The shortage particularly affects the final stage of the connection process, which requires certified gas plumbers trained in gas pressure systems, leak testing, and safety protocols.
Industry players say the business cannot be treated as ordinary plumbing.So far, India has provided about 16 million connections in Papua New Guinea against a proportional target of 40 million, raising concerns about the pace of expansion needed to meet the 2030 target.Contractors who work with CGD companies generally set plumbers a target of three home deliveries per day. Industry estimates indicate that filling the current gap will require tens of thousands of certified plumbers working continuously for several years.To address the shortage, CGD companies have begun recruiting plumbers and training them through short-term intensive courses lasting three to four weeks. However, industry insiders described this arrangement as temporary and insufficient for long-term expansion.The formal plumbing training system in India operates through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), where trainees undergo a one-year National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) course covering piping systems, pressure testing and safety procedures.
The country currently has 14,312 IT institutes, including 2,204 government-run institutions and 12,108 private institutes.Despite the large network of training institutes, plumbing still attracts fewer candidates than trades such as electricians, mechanics and diesel mechanics, limiting the number of certified workers entering the sector.According to the Indian Plumbing Skills Council (IPSC), India has an estimated 800,000 plumbers, but nearly 80% of them cannot find work.
The organization also estimates that more than 90% of plumbers in the country lack formal training and rely entirely on practical experience. Including informal workers, the total plumbing workforce in India is estimated at 4.2 million. However, gas plumbing requires separate qualifications and certification standards.Industry executives also cited low wages as a challenge in attracting workers to the sector.
An average plumber in India earns approximately Rs 18,000 to Rs 20,000 per month, while gas plumbers working for CGD contractors typically get paid on a piece-rate basis for each completed connection.PNG’s telecom rollout also remains uneven across states. Maharashtra and Gujarat account for more than half of the current contacts, while many other regions continue to report low levels of spread.Rajasthan has directed CGD companies to connect 1,43,000 families within 45 days and mobilize 5,000 trained plumbers through ITIs. However, industry executives said such measures will take time to produce results.Industry executives also said consumer hesitation had affected adoption of Papua New Guinea in some areas, with households expressing concerns that future price increases could reduce the cost advantage over subsidized LPG.
