LPG Output Up 30%

New Delhi, March 13: Domestic production of cooking gas has increased by 30%, and India has sufficient fuel supplies to meet demand despite ongoing tensions in West Asia, the government said on Friday.

Speaking at an inter-ministerial briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refining) at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said LPG production at Indian refineries has risen by about 30% compared with levels on March 5.

The government is prioritising LPG supplies for households, hospitals and educational institutions to ensure uninterrupted access to cooking fuel.

Commercial LPG cylinders have also been made available to state governments for distribution based on local priority requirements.

Officials said India’s refining capacity currently stands at 258 million metric tonnes, with domestic refineries operating at full capacity. This capacity has enabled the country to remain largely self-sufficient in petrol and diesel production.

Authorities also confirmed that there is no shortage of petrol or diesel, and none of the nearly 100,000 fuel retail outlets across the country have reported supply disruptions.

Refineries maintain adequate crude inventories, with supplies being replenished regularly to ensure uninterrupted operations.

The government added that the supply of piped natural gas (PNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) remains stable. Around 15 million households are currently connected to PNG networks, while another six million homes located near gas pipelines are eligible for connections.

Consumers in such areas have been encouraged to adopt PNG to help reduce pressure on LPG demand.