India's Strategic Energy Supply Measures Amidst Geopolitical Tensions
Geopolitical Landscape in West Asia
New Delhi: The geopolitical dynamics in West Asia are rapidly evolving, prompting the Indian government to enhance its preparedness. The focus is on maintaining control over energy supply, including LPG and PNG, while keeping the public informed about the situation. A review of the current circumstances was conducted on Sunday, detailing the measures being implemented.
Current Energy Supply Status
In an update, the government reported that the delivery of domestic LPG cylinders remains stable, with over 5.35 million cylinders delivered on Saturday. Additionally, more than 39,000 PNG consumers have surrendered their LPG connections via MYPNGD.in. The Indian-flagged crude oil tanker 'Desh Garima' safely navigated the Hormuz Strait with 31 Indian sailors on board, expected to reach Mumbai by April 22, 2026. Meanwhile, the Iranian ambassador has been summoned as India expressed deep concern over the recent shooting incident involving Indian vessels in the region.
Ensuring Energy Availability
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is taking steps to ensure the uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG across the country in light of the current situation in the Hormuz Strait. The ministry advises against panic buying of LPG. The government is committed to ensuring the availability of petrol, diesel, and LPG, urging citizens to rely solely on official sources for accurate information. LPG consumers are encouraged to utilize digital booking platforms and avoid visiting distributors in person. Citizens are also urged to consider alternative fuels such as PNG and electric or induction cooktops.
Government's Preparedness
Despite the ongoing geopolitical challenges, the government has ensured that the supply of domestic LPG, PNG, and CNG (for transportation) remains at 100%. Priority has been given to hospitals and educational institutions for commercial LPG. Additionally, sectors such as pharmaceuticals, steel, automobiles, seeds, and agriculture are also prioritized. The supply of 5 kg FTL cylinders to migrant workers has been doubled based on the average daily supply from March 2 and 3, 2026.
Measures Implemented
The government has already implemented several measures addressing both supply and demand, including increasing refinery production, extending booking intervals in urban areas from 21 to 25 days, and prioritizing different sectors for supply. To alleviate pressure on LPG demand, alternative fuels like kerosene and coal have been made available. The Coal Ministry has directed Coal India and Singareni Collieries to allocate additional coal to states for distribution to small and medium consumers.
Coordination with State Governments
State governments have been empowered to monitor supply under the Essential Commodities Act of 1955 and the LPG Control Order of 2000, allowing them to take action against hoarding and black marketing.
Current LPG Supply Situation
The ongoing geopolitical situation continues to impact LPG supply. Domestic households are prioritized for LPG supply, and there have been no reports of 'dry-out' (complete supply exhaustion) at LPG distributorships. Online LPG bookings across the industry surged to nearly 98% yesterday, and 'Delivery Authentication Code' (DAC) based deliveries have increased to over 93% to prevent misuse. The delivery of domestic LPG cylinders remains normal, with over 5.35 million cylinders delivered on April 18, 2026.
Commercial LPG Supply
The total allocation of commercial LPG has been increased to approximately 70% of pre-crisis levels, including a 10% reform-linked allocation.
Crude Oil Status
All refineries are operating at full capacity, with sufficient crude oil reserves. Stocks of petrol and diesel are also being maintained, and domestic LPG production has been increased to meet local consumption needs.
Inter-Ministerial Coordination
To ensure the supply of petrochemical feedstock to the domestic market, an inter-ministerial joint working group (JWG) has been established. Following this, the government has authorized oil refinery companies (including petrochemical complexes) to provide a specified minimum quantity of C3 and C4 streams to critical sectors identified by the Center for High Technology (CHT).