India’s oil, LPG supplies fully protected despite West Asia conflict: Hardeep Puri tells Parliament

India’s crude oil and domestic LPG supplies are “fully protected” despite the disruption in global energy markets caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Thursday, stressing that the country has diversified its energy sourcing to reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz.

Addressing concerns over the emerging energy crisis, Puri said the government had taken steps to cushion the impact of the conflict on India’s fuel supplies.

“The steps taken are in response to the disruption of the global energy supply arising from the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The world has not faced a moment of this kind in history,” he told the Parliament.

Puri said India has significantly increased sourcing of crude oil from outside the Strait of Hormuz.

“Non-Hormuz sourcing has risen to approximately 70 per cent of crude imports, up from 55 per cent before the conflict began,” he said.

He underlined that India now sources crude oil from about 40 countries, compared with 27 in 2006–07, calling it a result of long-term diversification policies that have provided the country with supply flexibility.

India’s refineries are currently operating at high capacity utilisation levels, in some cases exceeding 100%, he said.

“There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene, ATF or fuel oil. Retail outlets across the country are stocked and supply chains for these products are functioning normally,” Puri told the House.

His remarks came amid concerns over disruptions to energy supplies after the escalating conflict in West Asia affected shipments of liquefied natural gas through the Strait of Hormuz.

The government has invoked provisions of the Essential Commodities Act and issued the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026, directing that available natural gas and LPG components be prioritised for household consumption, compressed natural gas (CNG) used in vehicles and LPG production.

Under the revised allocation framework, supply to domestic piped natural gas (PNG), CNG for transport, LPG production and essential pipeline operations will be maintained at 100% of their past six-month average consumption.

However, the prioritisation of domestic LPG has triggered a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders used by restaurants and hotels in several cities, forcing some businesses to curtail operations.

Many establishments were running on existing stocks and may have to shut temporarily if fresh supplies are not received.

There have also been reports of widespread panic booking of LPG cylinders by households amid fears of shortages, leading to long queues at gas distribution centres in several states.

The government, however, has urged consumers not to resort to panic buying.

Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said India has sufficient LPG stocks to fully meet household cooking gas demand.

“There is no need for customers to rush-book cylinders or resort to panic booking. Our normal delivery cycle for domestic LPG remains around two-and-a-half days,” Sharma said at a media briefing.