Govt urges domestic LPG consumers not to panic-book cylinder, says supply cycle remains normal

The government on Wednesday urged domestic consumers not to panic book LPG cylinders, asserting that the normal delivery cycle of about two-and-a-half days for household cooking gas continues to be maintained.

Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said India has secured adequate crude supplies from non-Strait of Hormuz routes.

“Feedback suggests that some panic booking and hoarding behaviour is happening due to misinformation. I want to clarify that our normal delivery cycle for domestic LPG remains around two-and-a-half days,” Sharma told reporters at a briefing.

“There is no need for customers to rush-book cylinders or resort to panic booking... there is no need for panic booking,” she said.

The official insisted that India’s crude supply position remains stable despite disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz due to the conflict in West Asia.

“Our daily crude consumption is about 55 lakh barrels. Through diversified procurement, the volumes we have secured today exceed what would normally have arrived through the Strait of Hormuz during this period,” Sharma said.

India imports crude from nearly 40 countries and has stepped up procurement from alternative routes.

About 70% of India’s crude imports are now coming from routes outside the Strait of Hormuz, compared with around 55% earlier, she said.

"As I speak to you today, about two LNG cargoes are headed for India, and they will arrive within a few days, which will further strengthen the crude supply position in the country," Sharma said.

According to the ministry, the measures taken to boost domestic availability have led to a 25 per cent increase in LPG production.

Reports of possible supply disruptions triggered panic among LPG consumers in parts of the country.

In Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district, several consumers rushed to LPG distribution centres on Tuesday to collect their cylinders.

District officials, however, ruled out any shortage and said supplies remained adequate.

District Supply Officer Anjani Kumar Singh said about 16,000 domestic LPG cylinders were dispatched across the district’s 83 distribution centres against an average daily demand of around 15,000.

“Panic among domestic LPG consumers is unnecessary as the administration is committed to ensuring adequate supply as per demand,” Singh told PTI.

Some consumers said deliveries were taking longer than usual.

Prashant, a local resident, said his cylinder had not been delivered even five days after booking.

An LPG agency owner, Atul Kumar Jaiswal, said he had sufficient stock of domestic cylinders and more supply was expected but consumers remained apprehensive.

“We had to issue tokens to manage the rush of people who had already booked cylinders,” he said.

State governments have been asked to take preventive actions to prevent hoarding and black marketing of fuel, according to the ministry.