India's dependence on LPG imports and slow expansion of piped gas networks highlight policy gaps, affordability challenges, and consumer behaviour issues hindering a transition to cleaner cooking fuel
The blending of 20 per cent dimethyl ether (DME) --produced from coal gasification -- with LPG could reduce LPG imports by about 6.3 million tonnes annually, leading to a saving of forex of up to USD 4.04 billion (around Rs 34,200 crore) per year, according to a latest report. Coal gasification converts coal into syngas, which is then transformed into DME's clean-burning fuel that serves as a homegrown substitute for imported LPG. The report assumes significance in the wake of India facing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supply constraints since the war broke out in West Asia. According to the report titled 'Coal gasification for energy and chemical security' by EY-Parthenon and New Era Cleantech Solution Ltd -- a domestic coal gasification firm -- "DME, producible from coal gasification, can partially substitute LPG imports". It further said 20 per cent blending could displace approximately 6.3 million tonnes of LPG imports annually. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has already
Cooking gas LPG demand is inching towards normalcy as domestic supplies increased as onset of summer chips away demand, a senior official said on Friday. With the war in West Asia disrupting global energy supplies, cooking gas availability in India, too, was impacted. Following this, the government prioritised supplies to domestic household kitchens by cutting supplies to commercial establishments such as hotels and restaurants. The cuts spark panic, prompting even domestic consumers to rush to secure LPG refills. Daily bookings exceeded 88 lakhs at peak last month as against pre-crisis bookings of about 45 lakh a day. Efforts to raise domestic output by diverting petrochemical pools into LPG production, led to a 40-50 per cent rise in output, prompting restoration of some of those supplies. At a news briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said daily bookings are in the range of 46-50 lakh currently. "Deliveries are normal. Yesterday
The Government of India convened a briefing at the National Media Centre on Monday. Officials from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and External Affairs provided updates on fuel availability, maritime operations, assistance to Indian nationals in the region, and measures being undertaken to maintain stability across key sectors. The Ministry of Heavy Industries also shared updates regarding the heavy industries sector.Enforcement actions continue across the country to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG. More than 2250 raids were conducted across the country. Till Sunday, more than 1.28 lakh raids have been conducted, over 59,000 cylinders have been seized, more than 1000 FIRs have been registered, and 238 persons have been arrested.According to a press release, in this context, meetings were convened on 2 April 2026 (Chaired by Secretary, MoPNG) and on 6 April 2026 (Chaired by Secretary, MoPNG along with Secretaries of I & B and ...
LPG exports from the West Asia, Asia's top supplier of the fuel used for cooking and feedstock for petrochemical plants, have plunged since the US-Israeli war with Iran started in late February
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority on Thursday said it received an India-flagged vessel carrying 15,400 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) that successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz amid the West Asia conflict. JNPA described the development as notable in the backdrop of the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel. "Today, JNPA proudly welcomed Green Asha-an India-flagged LPG vessel that has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz, and has moored at JNPA's liquid berth operated by BPCL-IOCL," it said in a release. This is a significant milestone as it is the first such vessel to reach JNPA since the onset of the war, it said, adding that the vessel brought in 15,400 tonnes of LPG. "The vessel, its cargo, and every member of the crew are all safe and secure. This arrival highlights the ability of maritime operations to function amid complex geopolitical conditions while ensuring the steady supply of essential LPG to the nation," it said. The facility, also known as
Decision follows reports of migrant workers returning back to their homes due to LPG shortages; authorities aim to stabilise supply and streamline distribution through state-run channels
The Delhi government has tightened norms for the supply of commercial LPG cylinders, making it mandatory for businesses to either have or apply for a piped natural gas (PNG) connection in areas where the network is available, according to an official order. In an order issued by the Food, Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department on April 2, the government amended a key clause of its recently notified policy on distribution of commercial LPG cylinders. Under the revised rules, commercial and industrial consumers will be eligible to receive LPG supplies only if they are registered with the concerned oil marketing company (OMC) and have applied for a PNG connection, wherever the network exists. According to the order, in areas where PNG infrastructure is not yet in place, consumers will be required to submit an application expressing their intent to switch to PNG once it becomes available. Officials said OMCs will be required to verify documents at least once to ensure compliance with
The total value of the seized canisters and some vehicles used by the accused was nearly ₹22 lakh, police said
The government on Friday held discussions on measures to encourage companies to ramp up production of induction heaters and compatible utensils amid rising demand for these products due to concerns over LPG availability following the West Asia crisis, an official said. The crisis has disrupted the movement of ships carrying oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over cooking gas supplies and prompting people to rush to buy induction heaters and compatible utensils. The meeting, chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, was attended by senior officials, including Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Lav Agarwal, and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia. "We discussed how we can speed up and increase the production of induction heaters and vessels that go on those heaters (utensils like an induction cooker, etc.)," the official said. The demand for these go
Prices of commercial LPG were hiked by Rs 195.50 on Wednesday, on back of surge in global oil prices linked to the widening West Asia conflict. A 19-kg commercial LPG now costs Rs 2,078.50 in Delhi, according to state-owned oil companies. Rates were last increased by Rs 114.5 per 19-kg cylinder on March 1. Domestic cooking gas LPG rates, which were last hiked by Rs 60 per 14.2-kg cylinder on March 7, remain unchanged. It costs Rs 913 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi. State-owned Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum revise ATF and LPG prices on the first day of every month based on international benchmarks and the exchange rate. Global oil prices have shot up almost 50 per cent after the war in West Asia disrupted energy supply chains. Petrol and diesel prices continue to remain frozen after a Rs 2 per-litre reduction in March last year; petrol currently costs Rs 94.72 per litre in Delhi and diesel Rs 87.62.
The central government has increased commercial LPG allocations to states by 20 per cent, raising the quota to 70 per cent of pre-war demand to meet industrial requirements, including steel and automobiles. In a letter to state chief secretaries, Oil Secretary Neeraj Mittal directed that the additional supply be prioritised for labour-intensive industries such as steel, automobiles, textiles, dyes, chemicals, and plastics, which support other essential sectors. "In addition to the existing 50 per cent allocation, an additional 20 per cent is now proposed, that would bring the total commercial LPG allocation to 70 per cent of the pre-crisis level of the packed non-domestic LPG," he wrote.
The Delhi government has increased the commercial LPG cylinder allocation from 20 per cent to 50 per cent of average daily consumption, raising the supply from 1,800 to 4,500 cylinders (19 kg equivalent) per day. This announcement was made by Minister for Food and Supplies Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Thursday. The decision follows directives from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, according to officials. The enhanced supply is effective immediately and aims to cover critical sectors, including essential services, hotels, industries, and support for migrant labourers. This adjustment builds on the previous policy to meet demand without disruption, officials added. Sirsa expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central Government, stating, "We thank the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji for this timely increase to 50 per cent allocation. Thanks to his proactive support, residents of Delhi will face no hurdles in the .
Government mandates shift to piped natural gas in connected areas, linking LPG supply to PNG adoption amid supply concerns and push for cleaner fuels
State-owned oil companies on Wednesday said there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG in the country, urging citizens not to believe rumours circulating on social media or resort to panic buying. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the nation's largest oil firm, said "there is no shortage of petrol or diesel", adding that its outlets are "well-stocked and fully operational". It cautioned that rumours "can create unnecessary concern and disrupt normal supply patterns" and urged citizens to "avoid panic buying and rely only on verified information". Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) termed reports of fuel shortages in certain areas "completely unfounded", asserting that "there is no shortage of fuel across the nation". The company said India is a net exporter of petrol and diesel and has "adequate stocks of crude oil, petrol, diesel and ATF", with supply chains operating "smoothly without any disruption". It added that it remains "fully operational and committed to ensuring ...
While a proposal to supply smaller refills is under consideration, petroleum ministry officials have termed reports of such a move as "highly speculative", urging consumers not to believe rumours
Supply contraints of LPG cylinders showed no signs of abating in parts of West Bengal on Monday, with gas distributors, transporters and restaurants reporting disruption in operations amid the crunch. Bijan Biswas, vice-president of the Indane LPG Distributors' Association in Bengal, said the overall situation has not improved significantly. He, however, said panic booking of cylinders is not the primary issue now, with the servers largely functioning normally. "The queues of people are mainly for completing eKYC formalities rather than booking cylinders. Once a bill is generated, delivery is taking about five to seven days," Biswas said. He also claimed that the government has reduced the allocation of cylinders by 30 per cent from March, pushing the delivery cycle between two cylinders to a minimum of 25 days. Biswas said there have been discussions on supplying smaller LPG cylinders of 7 kg or 10 kg to help manage the crisis and ease supply pressure. "These low-volume cylinder
Three men were arrested in southwest Delhi's Mahipalpur for allegedly hoarding LPG cylinders to sell them at a premium price, police said on Sunday. They were identified as Krishna, Dinesh Sahu, and Mithilesh, aged 33, 46, and 39, all from Bihar but living in Delhi. The police seized 74 LPG cylinders 70 domestic and four commercial - along with a transport vehicle and refilling equipment in the raid on Saturday, an officer said. "The trio was engaged in illegally storing LPG cylinders and supplying them to local customers without bills or licences. They allegedly used metal pipes to transfer gas from multiple filled cylinders into empty ones to manipulate supply and increase margins," the officer said. "During the search, a large number of LPG cylinders, weighing machines and gas transfer equipment were found. The accused failed to produce any valid documents for storage or distribution of the cylinders," the officer said. Among the recovered items were 54 filled and 16 used dome
The LPG crisis-forced migration to firewood in Tamil Nadu's hotel industry is going to soon lead to a rise in prices of food commodities but what has taken the fizz off in the festival season is Biryani getting dear. Muslim faithfuls rue the fact that family gatherings have shrunken during the Ramzan season, thanks to the LPG situation triggered by the ared conflict in West Asia. Tamil Nadu Hotels Association President M Venkadasubbu said, this time the hoteliers preferred to prepare even the accompaniments of biryani using firewood. "Whatever side dish people order it will be available since this time hotels have started to prepare those items also using firewood along with biryani. But the cost has increased since the price of firewood also increased. However, hotels have stopped selling those items that are deep fried," he said. Due to the sudden commercial LPG cylinder crisis, 90 per cent of the hotels are not running on profits and there has been 30 per cent drop in business f
India's domestic production supplies about 41 per cent of the country's LPG demand, while the remaining volumes are imported