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India has ramped up supply of smaller 5-kg LPG cylinders and accelerated the rollout of piped natural gas (PNG) connections as it manages fuel availability amid disruptions triggered by the West Asia conflict. More than 13 lakh 5-kg free trade LPG cylinders have been sold since March 23, with daily sales rising above 100,000 units, as authorities expand access for migrant workers and low-income consumers, according to an official statement. At the same time, over 424,000 new PNG connections have been activated since March, with more than 30,000 consumers surrendering LPG connections as part of the transition. The six-week long war in West Asia has disrupted global energy supply. India relied on import of half of its crude oil, 40 per cent of its gas and 85-90 per cent of LPG from the region was also impacted. While it has managed to make up for the shortfall in crude oil by sourcing from other regions, LPG supplies have been impacted. The government has prioritised LPG supply to .
The Maharashtra government has directed city gas distribution companies to activate 24/7 helplines and increase the number of centres processing applications for piped natural gas connections, amid the impact of the West Asia crisis on global energy supply chains. A Government Resolution (GR), issued by the Food and Civil Supplies Department on Friday, instructed companies to expand outreach and infrastructure to ensure wider PNG coverage across the state. The GR said disruptions in global energy supply have affected petroleum product availability, leading to constraints in LPG supply, and emphasised the need to accelerate PNG connections as a short-term mitigation measure. It directed city gas distribution (CGD) companies to operationalise 24-hour helplines for consumers and ensure citizens do not face inconvenience while applying for connections. The companies were also asked to increase the number of helplines and helpdesks based on city population and rising demand. Further, th
The Aluminium Extrusion Manufacturers Association of India (ALEMA) has urged the government for urgent relief measures as the industry is grappling with severe LPG and PNG shortages triggered by the escalating West Asia crisis. The ALEMA has urged the government to implement urgent relief measures, including interest rate cuts and loan moratoriums. ALEMA, in a recent letter to the government, said the conflict in West Asia has severely disrupted supplies of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and piped natural gas (PNG), critical fuels for melting, heating and ageing processes in aluminium extrusion manufacturing. "Many extrusion units have been compelled to shut down or reduce production by 30-70 per cent due to acute shortages and supply prioritisation by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas," the association said. ALMA represents nearly 250 of India's 450 aluminium extrusion companies -- with 90 per cent being MSMEs. According to the association, without intervention, the ...
The supply of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to commercial establishments in Maharashtra has been increased by 20 per cent, state Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has said, offering relief to restaurants and eateries. The government has decided to ease PNG distribution to businesses, the minister said on Sunday. "From March 23, until further notice, commercial PNG supply has been increased by 20 per cent," he added. With this, supply to the commercial sector will rise to 50 per cent. Restaurant and eateries were hit after the war in West Asia broke out, as it impacted the supply of commercial cooking gas. Several food joints have been forced to suspend operations due to the gas supply disruptions. The conflict involving US-Israel and Iran has led to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the main transit route for Gulf energy supplies. Bhujbal said the PNG distribution to commercial establishments, ever since the crisis hit, was initially raised to 20 per cent, followed by
In a significant change to regulations, oil and gas regulator PNGRB has proposed a new policy of how tariffs for pipelines carrying gas to users will be determined, and proposed charging city gas entities selling CNG and piped cooking gas to households at the lowest rates. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has floated a public consultation document for changing the zonal tariffs levied on pipelines that carry natural gas from fields producing it or from import ports, to users such as power plants that make electricity from it, or fertiliser units that manufacture urea from it, or city gas entities that turn it into CNG for sale to automobiles and pipe it to household kitchens for cooking purposes. "In yet another far-reaching reform for bringing investments and to increase the gas consumption especially in CNG and domestic piped natural gas (one used in household kitchens for cooking) in the country, PNGRB has brought a proposal for reducing the price of piped ..
Oil regulator PNGRB has launched a two-month long nationwide drive to increase adoption of piped natural gas as a cooking fuel in household kitchens in an attempt to cut dependence on imported fossil-fuels. "The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) along with city gas distribution entities will run a campaign from January 26 to March 31, aimed to promote the adoption of piped natural gas (PNG) among households and to expand PNG consumer base across a broader segment of the population," it said in a statement. While PNG has gained currency in the last few years after PNGRB expanded city gas networks to most parts of the country, sizable households continue to use either LPG or conventional fuels like firewood and cow dung for cooking. While India is about 50 per cent dependent on imports to meet cooking gas LPG needs, use of conventional fuels is considered a health hazard. PNG offers a viable alternative. It is convenient as it does not require ordering for refills ..
Russia's Gazprom stopped the flow of natural gas through a major pipeline from Russia to Europe early Wednesday, a temporary move to it announced in advance. The Russian state-controlled energy giant said earlier this month that it would the cut the flow of gas through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline until Saturday for what it says is a three-day pause for routine maintenance at a compressor station. According to Gazprom, the only remaining turbine, which is located at the Portovaya compressor station, needs maintenance. The head of Germany's Federal Network Agency, Klaus Mueller, has said that the maintenance work is technically incomprehensible and he considers it a way of punishing Germany for siding with Ukraine since the Russian invasion. Gazprom has repeatedly reduced the flow of gas through Nord Stream 1 claiming technical issues such as equipment repairs. Germany calls these cuts a political move to sow uncertainty and push up prices amid the war in Ukraine. Russia has also redu