No LPG shortage reported; supply steady with over 51 lakh refills delivered: Govt

The government on Thursday said there has been no “dry out” of LPG supplies, with distribution remaining stable and more than 51 lakh refills delivered on Wednesday. 

Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said LPG availability remains steady, supported by robust distribution and high adoption of digital systems. “No dry out has been reported, and LPG supply remains stable with over 51 lakh refills delivered yesterday. Online booking has reached 98% and OTP-based delivery 92%,” she said. 

Commercial LPG supply

Sharma added that commercial LPG supply has been restored to around 70%, including bulk supplies to key sectors. Since March 14, nearly 1 lakh tonnes of LPG have been supplied, including 6,700 tonnes on Wednesday, equivalent to about 3.5 lakh 19-kg cylinders. 

The availability of 5-kg cylinders has also been expanded, with over 10 lakh units sold since March 23, including 1.06 lakh on Wednesday alone. To boost awareness and access, more than 2,000 camps have been organised, distributing around 20,000 cylinders. 

Natural gas supply to fertiliser plants has been scaled up to 95%, while city gas distribution (CGD) companies are maintaining full supply to priority sectors. Nearly 3.97 lakh PNG connections have been activated, 4.3 lakh consumers registered, and over 18,000 LPG connections surrendered via the mypngd portal. 

Key feedstocks are being allocated on a pro rata basis

Satyaprakash T.L., Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, said the government is ensuring uninterrupted supply of critical petroleum-based inputs to the pharmaceutical sector. “Key feedstocks such as propylene, ammonia and methanol are being allocated on a pro rata basis, with fertiliser units supporting ammonia supply,” he said. 

According to him, propylene remains crucial for drugs such as ibuprofen, with supplies supported by BPCL refineries. While methanol supply remains a concern, companies such as Assam Petrochemicals and GNFC are stepping in, alongside efforts to strengthen logistics. The government has also relaxed quality control norms on morpholine to support production and is restoring aluminium supply for pharmaceutical packaging. 

Supplies of LPG and high-speed diesel for pharma manufacturing are being closely monitored, with no disruptions reported so far. “Issues are being addressed on a case-to-case basis in coordination with industry stakeholders to ensure uninterrupted production,” he added. 

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said India is closely monitoring developments in West Asia and remains actively engaged with countries in the region. He said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will visit the UAE from April 11–12 to review bilateral cooperation and strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. 

Over 1,800 Indian seafarers have been repatriated to date

Mukesh Mangal, Additional Secretary in the Shipping Ministry, said there have been no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels or seafarers in the past 24 hours. He confirmed that the Indian LPG vessel Green Asha has safely reached Jawaharlal Nehru Port after transiting the Strait of Hormuz. 

The Directorate General of Shipping control room has handled around 5,600 calls and 12,000 emails so far, including 166 calls and 317 emails in the last 24 hours. More than 1,800 Indian seafarers have been repatriated to date, including 49 in the past day. Port operations across the country remain normal, with no congestion reported, he added, noting that the government continues to coordinate efforts to ensure seafarer welfare and uninterrupted maritime trade.