Domestic and commercial LPG cylinder prices have increased across the country just 48 hours ago amid the Iran and Israel-America war.

Notably, since Sunday night, it has been learned from state-owned oil companies and LPG dealers that oil companies are imposing indefinite restrictions on the supply of commercial gas cylinders. That is, commercial gas cylinders that are supplied to places like hotels, restaurants, and factories will not be supplied for now. The only exception made is for hospitals and educational institutions.

That means, apart from food for patients and schools (mainly private), college canteens, and laboratories, commercial gas cylinders will not be supplied as per demand anywhere else for now. The demand for commercial LPG is only 2-3 per cent of the country's total demand. But even restricting this small portion will have a far-reaching economic impact. As a result, there are also concerns that food prices at these places may increase.

Due to the war situation across West Asia, Iran has blocked ship movement through the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, oil and gas imports have been significantly affected overall. Sources claim that at least 60 per cent of India's Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supply is imported through the Strait of Hormuz. Again, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is mainly imported from Saudi Arabia. 80-85 per cent of India's total LPG demand comes through the Strait of Hormuz.

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However, just a few days ago, the Centre had assured that with the amount of oil reserves India currently has, there is no major gap between daily demand and supply in the energy sector.

Commercial LPG supply restricted as panic booking skyrockets in Bengal

Domestic cooking gas prices increased by 60 rupees per cylinder, and commercial gas cylinder prices increased by 114.50 rupees. This has created intense anger among the public. Middle-class customers have been particularly inconvenienced. Many have started booking gas cylinders in advance out of panic.

Sources claim that this is creating a big gap between daily demand and supply. That's why commercial LPG cylinder supply is being restricted for now, according to LPG dealer sources.

Several reports noted that at least 2-3 lakh commercial gas cylinders are supplied monthly, combining Kolkata and adjacent districts. If that supply is suspended for now, there is no doubt that a huge number of industries and business establishments dependent on LPG will face problems. LPG dealers say that although written guidelines have not reached them until Monday, this decision has been taken so that domestic cylinder users do not face problems for now. The number of customers of the three state-owned oil companies combined in Kolkata, both 24 Parganas and the surrounding areas, is more than one crore. Among them, Indian Oil alone has about 41 lakh customers.

"Due to international tension over the Strait of Hormuz and price increases, common people are so worried that on Saturday, the daily demand for domestic LPG cylinders stood at about 1.5 lakh. On Sunday again, this demand reached 1.9 lakh cylinders. Where normally, daily demand remains around one lakh. But due to anxiety, common people's demand for domestic LPG booking may increase further in the coming days," an official of the dealer organisation told Ei Samay.

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How the LPG crisis is hitting Kolkata's small food vendors hardest

Not only that, many commercial gas users are now booking domestic cylinders, fearing that commercial gas supply may stop, according to many concerned officials. As a result, demand for domestic LPG has increased abnormally in the last two days. According to sources, it will be difficult to supply domestic cylinders, keeping pace with that demand, so commercial cylinder supply has to be suspended for now.

However, many do not think that this will provide any great relief for common people. Because big hotel-restaurant authorities may be able to manage their work from stock cylinders for a few days, but businessmen in small to medium hotels and restaurants or footpath food stalls will face problems everywhere.