New Delhi: The Union government on Tuesday reassured citizens that there is sufficient availability of cooking gas and natural gas across the country, dismissing concerns of a potential shortage following tensions in West Asia.
Officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said supplies of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) remain stable and additional shipments are being arranged from multiple international sources to ensure uninterrupted availability.
The statement comes after disruptions in maritime routes in the Gulf region, particularly the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which is a key channel for global oil and gas transportation. Authorities noted that India has already diversified its crude oil procurement routes to reduce dependence on this passage.
According to government sources, nearly 70 per cent of the country’s crude oil imports are now arriving through alternative shipping routes rather than the Strait of Hormuz. Just about ten days earlier, roughly 55 per cent of India’s crude supplies were routed through the strait before the conflict escalated.
Officials also highlighted that global oil prices have shown signs of easing. Crude oil, which had climbed close to 100 dollars per barrel earlier, dropped to around 87 dollars after certain countries released strategic reserves to stabilise the market. The government said retail prices of petrol and diesel in India will not increase as a result of recent developments.
To prevent panic buying and ensure balanced distribution, the government has invoked provisions under the Essential Commodities Act 1955. A natural gas supply control order has been issued under Section 3 of the law, allowing authorities to regulate production, supply and allocation of natural gas across sectors.
Officials clarified that households will remain the top priority for LPG distribution. If supply decisions need to be made, domestic consumers will be given preference over commercial users such as hotels and restaurants.
The government also noted that panic booking of LPG cylinders had briefly increased after concerns surfaced about supply disruptions. To manage demand, rules requiring a 25-day gap between refill bookings have been reinforced.
Petroleum ministry officials said no LPG distributor in the country has run out of stock and the average waiting period for delivery of a booked cylinder remains about two and a half days, provided bookings follow the prescribed refill cycle.
Meanwhile, a three-member panel comprising senior executives from Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum has been formed to hold discussions with representatives from the hospitality sector regarding their concerns over fuel supply.
Officials added that many commercial kitchens increasingly rely on electric or induction-based cooking systems, which may help reduce pressure on LPG demand in the short term.
Government sources maintained that while the situation initially caused concern, the country’s energy supply chain remains stable and capable of managing temporary global disruptions.
