India is facing disruptions in cooking gas cylinder distribution, prompting the Union government to urge consumers to move to alternative energy options. Officials have particularly advised residents in areas with piped natural gas (PNG) infrastructure to switch to PNG connections immediately.
The supply strain has been linked to continuing war-related tensions in West Asia, which have affected crude oil supply chains and pushed up fuel prices globally. The situation has also contributed to shortages of LPG cylinders in several places.
As part of efforts to address the issue, the government sought Iran’s permission for Indian oil vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. While Iran has allowed some Indian ships, the LPG shortage has not fully eased due to rising domestic demand.
To manage the shortfall, GAIL (Gas Authority of India Ltd) held discussions with fuel distribution companies in major cities and asked them to provide PNG connections wherever feasible to reduce dependence on LPG cylinders.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry Joint Secretary Sujata Sharma said India currently has about 15 million PNG consumers and uninterrupted supply has been ensured for them. She added that around 6 million consumers have access to PNG but have not switched, and urged them to use the facility during the current crisis. In the Delhi-NCR region, industries and hotels have been given temporary permission for one month to use alternative fuels such as coal, kerosene, agricultural waste, sawdust and firewood. Consumers seeking a new PNG connection may need to pay a deposit of Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000; Sharma did not respond to a question on whether any subsidy would be provided for new connections.
