Nagpur: In view of rising global energy uncertainties due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the Central Government has taken precautionary measures to prioritise domestic LPG supply by restricting commercial LPG cylinder distribution. The step has been taken to ensure that household cooking gas supply remains uninterrupted across the country.
Following the directive, commercial LPG cylinder supply has been halted at plants of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) in Nagpur and Wardha districts. Local dealers have also been instructed not to send vehicles to collect commercial LPG cylinders until further notice, sources said.
The decision comes after a high-level meeting of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas chaired by Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on March 5, amid concerns over disruptions in energy supplies from Middle Eastern countries due to the ongoing US–Israel–Iran conflict.
According to an official order issued by the ministry, all oil refining companies in India have been directed to maximise the production of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) by utilising propane and butane streams exclusively for LPG manufacturing.
The order also states that refineries will not be allowed to divert propane or butane for petrochemical production or other downstream uses, ensuring that the entire output is dedicated to LPG production.
Further, the LPG produced from these streams must be supplied only to the three public sector oil marketing companies — IOCL, BPCL and HPCL — which together distribute more than 99% of domestic LPG used by households in India.
Officials noted that LPG is an essential fuel used for cooking in millions of households, and maintaining its uninterrupted availability is critical for public welfare and economic stability. The directive has been issued under provisions of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the Petroleum Products (Maintenance of Production, Storage and Supply) Order, 1999.
The order has come into immediate effect and will remain in force until further instructions from the Central Government.
Officials indicated that the move is a precautionary step similar to wartime resource management, aimed at safeguarding domestic cooking gas supply in case global fuel supply chains face further disruptions due to the ongoing geopolitical tensions.
