No disruption in LPG supply, says petroleum ministry amid West Asia tensions

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Friday said domestic LPG supply remains steady and cylinder deliveries are continuing without disruption, even as tensions in West Asia keep the overall situation under watch. 

Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the ministry, said, "The LPG situation remains concerning but supply is on normal level. We request people not to pay heed to rumours and wait patiently for the delivery of your cylinder. Also consumers are requested to focus on alternative fuel methods." 

She said all refineries are currently operating at peak capacity and domestic LPG production is ongoing. Adequate stocks are available across states, with no reports of shortages so far. Around 7,500 consumers have shifted to piped natural gas (PNG), helping ease some pressure on LPG demand. While the situation continues to be monitored closely, no cases of supply dry-outs have been reported, she added. 

Sharma also noted that nearly 93% of LPG bookings are now being made online, and instances of panic booking have declined in recent days. 

Crackdown on hoarding, black marketing 

The government has asked state authorities to tighten surveillance following complaints of black marketing and illegal hoarding of LPG cylinders. Sharma said about 4,500 raids have been conducted across the country while oil marketing companies have also carried out surprise inspections. 

On fuel prices, she said there has been a marginal increase in premium petrol rates. However, she clarified that petrol and diesel prices remain deregulated and are revised by oil marketing companies, adding that the impact on common consumers is expected to be minimal. 

Focus on preparedness, citizen safety 

At the joint media briefing, officials from the petroleum, shipping and external affairs ministries highlighted coordinated preparedness across sectors and urged citizens to rely only on official updates. 

Aseem R Mahajan, Joint Secretary (Gulf) in the External Affairs Ministry, said the government’s priority is ensuring the safety of Indian nationals in the region. "The government's focus is on the safety and security of the Indian nationals in the region. Control rooms are operational and the government has a robust mechanism to share info with state governments," he said, adding that Indian missions are functioning round the clock and issuing necessary advisories.