LPG Supply Remains Stable

New Delhi, May 12: The government on Monday reiterated that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG in the country, despite disruptions in global shipping due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, refineries are operating at optimal capacity with sufficient crude inventories to ensure uninterrupted fuel production and supply.

Joint Secretary Sujata Sharma said that in the past three days, LPG deliveries exceeded bookings, with 1.26 crore cylinders supplied against 1.14 crore bookings. Over 17,000 tonnes of commercial LPG and 762 tonnes of auto LPG were also sold during the period, alongside strong uptake of small 5-kg cylinders.

She added that no dry-outs have been reported at retail fuel outlets or LPG distributorships, underlining the robustness of domestic supply chains despite volatility in global energy markets triggered by the West Asia crisis.

The official noted that the government has taken proactive measures to maintain crude supplies and stabilise fuel availability, even as international prices remain volatile.

In the natural gas segment, around 6.7 lakh PNG connections have been activated, while infrastructure has been created for an additional 2.68 lakh connections. More than 52,000 users have voluntarily shifted from LPG to piped natural gas.

Oil marketing companies have also intensified enforcement, conducting around 1,500 inspections in recent days, penalising 382 distributors and suspending 76 to curb irregularities.

Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for conservation, Sharma urged citizens to reduce dependence on conventional fuels by using public transport, carpooling, and adopting cleaner alternatives such as electric vehicles to ease the economic burden on the country.