LPG refill booking gap cut to 25 days for rural consumers

Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi announced the decision in a Facebook post on Monday, sharing a copy of the Petroleum Ministry's letter directing state-owned oil marketing companies to implement the revised booking interval with immediate effect.

Rural-urban gap removed

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had introduced different refill booking intervals earlier this year as a temporary demand-management measure amid the disruption caused by the conflict in West Asia.

At the time, domestic LPG consumers in urban areas were allowed to book refills after 25 days, while the interval for rural consumers was set at 45 days.

Gopi said the government had now relaxed the restriction following an improvement in the LPG supply situation and a reduction in refill backlogs.

“Now, all domestic LPG consumers, regardless of urban or rural, can book refills at an interval of 25 days,” Gopi said in his Facebook post.

The ministry, in its letter to Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), said it had decided to prescribe a uniform 25-day inter-refill booking gap.

“The Ministry has decided to revise the existing refill booking interval and prescribe an inter-refill booking gap of 25 days uniformly for all Domestic LPG consumers, including those in rural areas,” it said.

LPG supply position improves

The ministry said the earlier restrictions were introduced during the outbreak of the West Asia conflict in February as a temporary measure to manage LPG demand amid supply concerns.

The latest decision was taken in view of the “present LPG supply position and the considerable reduction in refill backlogs” compared with the situation prevailing when the demand-management measures were introduced.

The revised interval will apply immediately across urban and rural areas.

Commercial LPG restrictions eased

The government has also progressively relaxed restrictions on LPG supplies to commercial users as availability improved.

In June, restrictions on non-domestic packed LPG were withdrawn and supplies were restored to pre-crisis levels. The government also relaxed restrictions on bulk LPG, allowing supplies of up to 50% of pre-crisis consumption levels.

The LPG supply situation had come under pressure following disruptions to energy flows during the West Asia conflict, including the disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Domestic LPG prices were raised by ₹60 per 14.2-kg cylinder in March, followed by another ₹29 increase in June, taking the price in Delhi to ₹942.