New Delhi, March 11: The Government of India has urged citizens not to panic over cooking gas supplies and to conserve energy, as disruptions in global energy supply chains begin affecting domestic availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
India, the world’s second-largest importer of LPG, is currently facing pressure on supplies due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that have disrupted shipping routes through the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
The federal government has invoked emergency powers, directing refiners to maximise LPG production while temporarily reducing supplies to industrial users in order to safeguard household consumption.
According to Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, these measures have already increased domestic LPG output by around 25 percent.
However, tighter supplies are beginning to impact sectors such as restaurants, hotels and small industries that rely heavily on LPG as fuel.
Sharma said panic booking and hoarding of LPG cylinders were unnecessary and largely driven by misinformation.
“Panic booking and hoarding behaviour have been driven by misinformation,” she said, urging consumers to remain calm and use energy responsibly.
Global Supply Disruptions
India consumed 33.15 million metric tonnes of LPG last year, with about 60 percent of demand met through imports, nearly 90 percent of which came from the Middle East.
The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has disrupted shipping routes in the region, affecting supplies of crude oil, LPG and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
India imports about half of its total gas consumption of 190 million standard cubic metres per day (mscmd).
LNG imports of 47.4 mmscmd have also been affected after Qatar, India’s largest LNG supplier, declared force majeure due to supply constraints.
To manage the situation, the government has started diverting gas supplies from non-priority sectors to critical users.
Alternative Supplies Being Arranged
Officials said India is actively securing alternative supplies to offset disruptions. Two LNG cargoes are already on their way to the country.
Indian refiners have also purchased several cargoes of Russian crude oil currently floating on the high seas, after the United States granted a 30-day sanctions waiver.
Most refineries in India are currently operating at full capacity to ensure adequate fuel availability.
“The Middle East conflict has posed challenges for the world, but India’s fuel demand is being met,” Sharma said. “The government is continuously monitoring the global situation and taking necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies and protect households and priority sectors.”
