LPG supply shortage enters third week; panic bookings ease but concerns remain

PTC Web Desk:  The shortage of LPG cylinders continued for the third consecutive week on Friday, though there were early signs of improvement as refill bookings began to decline.

Officials said the situation is slowly stabilising, but restrictions on supply to commercial users like hotels are still in place. This is largely due to disruptions in the supply chain caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

The crisis began after tensions escalated in the Middle East following attacks involving the US, Israel and Iran, which led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route that handles a major portion of India’s fuel imports. With nearly 60 per cent of supplies affected, the government shifted focus to ensure LPG availability for household kitchens.

Initially, supplies to commercial establishments were halted, but later resumed at about 20 per cent of their usual demand. This led to panic among domestic consumers, who rushed to book refills fearing shortages. Bookings had surged to 87.7 lakh on March 13, but have since come down.

According to Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, bookings dropped to around 55 lakh on March 19, compared to 57 lakh a day earlier. Before the crisis, daily bookings typically ranged between 50 to 55 lakh.

She noted that panic buying is gradually reducing and assured that there has been no complete shortage at any LPG distributor so far.

In the past week, about 11,300 tonne of LPG were supplied to commercial users. Meanwhile, domestic production has risen by more than 40 per cent over the last two weeks, helping oil companies maintain normal delivery levels for households.

Authorities are also stepping up efforts to prevent hoarding and black marketing. On Friday alone, around 4,500 raids were carried out, along with 1,800 surprise checks at fuel stations and LPG agencies. State governments have been directed to strengthen monitoring systems.

Despite improvements, officials admit the situation remains under pressure. Consumers have been advised to wait for home delivery after booking cylinders and avoid unnecessary bulk purchases.

The government is also encouraging people to consider alternative options such as piped natural gas (PNG), especially in areas where city gas networks are available. In 15 regions, around 13,700 PNG connections have been provided so far, with nearly 7,000 households shifting from LPG.

Additionally, the use of other fuels like kerosene is being promoted to reduce the burden on LPG supplies. States have also been given commercial LPG stocks to manage as per their priority needs.