Amid growing public concern over fuel supplies due to tensions in West Asia, the Central government on Wednesday assured citizens that India’s LPG supply remains stable and under control. The Petroleum Ministry said domestic gas cylinders will be delivered within two to two-and-a-half days after booking, urging people not to indulge in panic booking or hoard extra cylinders.
Addressing a press briefing, Petroleum Ministry Joint Secretary Sujata Sharma said the government is closely monitoring the situation and there is no disruption in India’s fuel supply chain. She stressed that rumors and misinformation have led many consumers to book cylinders earlier than required, creating unnecessary pressure on the system.
To prevent panic bookings, the government has increased the minimum gap between two LPG bookings from 21 days to 25 days. The move is aimed at ensuring fair distribution and preventing unnecessary stockpiling by consumers.
Sharma also clarified that India’s overall energy supply remains stable despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The country consumes roughly 5.5 million barrels of crude oil daily and imports oil from nearly 40 different countries. While some shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz have been affected, about 70 percent of supplies continue to reach India through alternative routes.
According to the government, additional oil tankers are expected to arrive in the coming days, which will further strengthen supply availability.
In terms of natural gas consumption, India currently uses around 189 million standard cubic meters per day (MSCMD). Out of this, about 97.5 MSCMD is produced domestically, while the remaining requirement is met through imports. Officials admitted that around 47.4 MSCMD of supply has been impacted by the West Asia crisis, but efforts are underway to increase supply through alternate channels.
India relies heavily on imports for LPG, with nearly 60 percent of the country’s demand met through international purchases. Nearly 90 percent of these imports typically pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
To address potential risks, the government issued fresh guidelines on March 8 instructing companies to increase domestic LPG production. Officials claim that this directive has already resulted in a 25 percent rise in local production.
Meanwhile, authorities have also formed a committee to review the LPG supply situation for commercial establishments such as restaurants and hotels, which depend on non-domestic LPG cylinders. Hospitals and other essential services are being given priority in the distribution of non-domestic LPG.
On the pricing front, the cost of domestic LPG in Delhi has recently increased by ₹60, taking the price to ₹913 per cylinder. However, beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana are receiving cylinders at a subsidized rate of ₹613.
Despite rising global prices, Sharma said LPG rates in India have not increased proportionately and remain lower than those in several neighboring countries.
Reassuring citizens, she said the supply chain remains fully functional and consumers will receive cylinders within two to two-and-a-half days of booking. “This is a challenging global situation, but India’s supply remains stable. There is no need for panic booking. We request citizens to conserve gas wherever possible,” she said.
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