Govt tightens watch on LPG supply amid West Asia tensions

Rising geopolitical tensions often trigger concerns over energy supplies and public panic. Recently, the Indian government stepped in to address rumours about a possible LPG shortage.

As tensions rise in West Asia involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, the Central government has asked states and Union Territories to keep a strict watch on LPG supplies.

Officials have been directed to assess distribution every day and take strong action against hoarding or illegal storage.

Additionally, state authorities have been urged to maintain public order, as misleading claims about LPG shortages are circulating widely on social media.

To manage the situation efficiently, the Centre established a 24×7 control room. Officials from the IT ministry and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas are coordinating through this monitoring system.

The move aims to ensure uninterrupted LPG distribution and prevent panic among consumers.

Meanwhile, reports of a potential shortage triggered unexpected consumer behaviour.

Induction cooktops quickly went out of stock on major e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart.

The surge in demand followed restrictions on commercial LPG distribution to eateries and other business establishments.

India consumes about 31.3 million tonnes of LPG every year. Approximately 87 per cent serve domestic households, while the remaining portion supports commercial sectors such as hotels and restaurants.

However, around 62 per cent of the country’s LPG requirement comes through imports. Most of these supplies arrive from West Asian nations.

The ongoing tensions have particularly affected shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor. India receives nearly 85–90 per cent of its LPG imports from countries in that region.

In a positive development, Iran recently allowed an Indian-flagged vessel to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz.

This followed diplomatic discussions between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The two leaders also spoke over the phone earlier this week to discuss the evolving regional situation.

Officials have advised citizens not to panic. The government continues to monitor fuel supplies closely, while authorised distributors provide regular updates.

For now, authorities maintain that reports of an immediate LPG shortage may be exaggerated.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on March 07, 2017

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1027990