India is set to receive over 62,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas this week, even as supply pressures persist due to the ongoing West Asia conflict. Government officials said on Monday that two LPG cargo vessels have already transited the Strait of Hormuz, helping sustain fuel supply to more than 332 million households across the country.
At the same time, the government has increased natural gas allocation to the fertiliser sector from around 70% to 90%, effective Monday. As per a report by the Hindustan Times, officials said the additional supply will come from domestically produced natural gas, which serves both as fuel and feedstock for fertiliser plants.
LPG supply under strain, but households covered
According to officials, state-run oil marketing companies are sourcing crude oil, LPG and liquefied natural gas from multiple global suppliers to manage demand. The two vessels, Green Sanvi carrying 46,500 tonnes and Green Asha with 15,500 tonnes, successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz amid regional tensions.
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Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the petroleum ministry, acknowledged concerns around LPG availability but assured that domestic supply remains stable. “For that, we have tied up additional cargoes also,” she said.
India imports nearly 60% of its LPG needs, with 90% of those imports coming from West Asia, particularly Qatar. Supply disruptions intensified after Iran’s strike on Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial city in mid-March and continued navigation challenges in the Strait of Hormuz.
Distribution and monitoring intensified
Despite the constraints, officials reported no shortages at the distribution level. “There is no dry-out reported at any of our LPG distributorships, and we are distributing approximately 50 lakh cylinders daily. LPG cylinders have been dispatched to approximately 18 crore households in last five weeks,” Sharma said.
To curb diversion and hoarding, 97% of refill bookings are now online, while 90% of deliveries use a delivery activation code system. Commercial LPG supply remains restricted to 70% of demand, although about 79,900 tonnes were supplied in the past three weeks.
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Focus on smaller cylinders and fertiliser supply
The government also highlighted the availability of 5 kg free trade LPG cylinders, commonly used by students and migrant workers. “Sufficient stock is available. A consumer can get it from the nearest distributor by showing a valid ID proof. No address proof is required,” Sharma said.
Over 5,500 awareness camps have been conducted, and demand for these cylinders has risen, with daily sales increasing from 77,000 in February to over 90,000 in early April.
On natural gas allocation, Sharma said fertiliser plants, which were earlier receiving about 70 to 75% of their requirement, will now get 90% supply as part of the revised allocation policy.
