India Maintains Stable LPG Supply

New Delhi, April 24: India’s domestic LPG distribution remained stable on Wednesday, with over 52 lakh cylinders delivered nationwide and no reports of stock shortages at retail outlets. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas confirmed that supply to households continues uninterrupted despite ongoing geopolitical pressures impacting overall LPG availability.

Digital adoption in LPG services has seen a sharp uptick, with 98% of bookings now made online. Additionally, authentication code-based deliveries linked to registered mobile numbers have reached 94%, aimed at curbing diversion and leakages in the system.

Demand for smaller cylinders also remained strong, with over 86,000 5 kg LPG cylinders—primarily used by migrant workers—sold during the day. This takes cumulative sales of the category to 17 lakh units since April 1. Public sector oil companies have complemented this push by organizing more than 8,200 awareness camps for migrant workers across the country.

Commercial LPG consumption showed steady momentum, with 8,483 metric tonnes sold on Wednesday, bringing total monthly sales to 1,40,362 metric tonnes. Meanwhile, piped natural gas (PNG) expansion continues, with 5.18 lakh new connections activated since March and infrastructure ready for an additional 2.58 lakh connections. Over 5.87 lakh new PNG customers have been registered, while more than 41,000 users have voluntarily surrendered LPG connections via the MYPNGD portal.

Authorities have intensified enforcement actions to prevent hoarding and black marketing. Over 2,600 raids were conducted on Wednesday alone, leading to the seizure of 285 cylinders. Cumulatively, more than 1.5 lakh raids have resulted in the confiscation of over 66,000 cylinders, alongside 1,100 FIRs and 255 arrests. Regulatory action has also been taken against distributors, with penalties imposed on 298 agencies and 70 distributorships suspended to date.

The government emphasized that all refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, ensuring sufficient availability of petrol, diesel, and LPG. Local LPG production has also been ramped up to support domestic demand.

Amid concerns linked to developments around the Strait of Hormuz, authorities have urged citizens to avoid panic buying and rely on official communication channels for accurate information, while encouraging the use of digital platforms for LPG bookings.