India’s LPG crisis: How countries are coping with supply disruptions caused by Iran war and Hormuz crisis

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Shortage: Long queues continue to form outside LPG refilling stations and reservation centers as concerns over LPG shortages mount due to the ongoing Middle East conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran.Iran has blocked the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for the Feb. 28 conflict triggered by a U.S.-Israeli attack, raising concerns about fuel supply disruptions. The body of water is a critical chokepoint and accounts for about a fifth of the world’s oil supply.

Despite government assurances that there will be no shortages, these assurances have done little to calm public concerns. The issue has also resonated in parliament, with opposition parties accusing the government of downplaying the seriousness of the situation.

Here’s how different states are dealing with LPG supply issues:delhiThe Delhi government has assured people that supplies of LPG, petrol, diesel and PNG are normal and urged them not to panic buy or hoard.A statement from the office of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said authorities are conducting strict checks to curb black marketing and hoarding of LPG cylinders.“The Ministry of Food, Supplies and Consumer Affairs has deployed field officers to facilitate hassle-free booking and ensure compliance. Enforcement teams are conducting stringent inspections to curb black marketing and hoarding. We are maintaining strict vigilance to prevent diversion of household LPG cylinders for commercial purposes in restaurants and eateries,” the statement said.The government also informed people that the minimum interval for LPG refueling booking has been revised from 21 days to 25 days.“Despite this modification, consumers will receive refills on average two to three days from the date of booking. To streamline the process, the government is encouraging the use of digital platforms for bookings,” the statement added.MaharashtraThe Maharashtra government has directed oil companies to immediately fix technical glitches in LPG booking apps and missed call services to ensure residents can easily book gas cylinders.The state government further announced that control rooms will be set up at all levels promptly and WhatsApp facilities will be provided for complaint handling.However, public institutions will be prioritized for uninterrupted supply of LPG cylinders in view of the upcoming festive season.The government also directed authorities to seek assistance from local representatives and village committee members to prevent citizens from panicking.It also said that the responsibility of providing necessary protection to vehicles transporting LPG as well as gas agencies has been entrusted to the Police Department.uttar pradeshChief Minister Yogi Adityanath convened a review meeting and assured the public that there is no shortage of diesel, petrol and cooking gas in the state.The Chief Minister was informed that the supply system was functioning smoothly.After the meeting, Adityanath posted onHe also suggested the use of alternative fuels by communicating with hotels, hospitals, Dharamshala, hotels and various commercial establishments.According to the Chief Minister’s Office, police personnel will be deployed at LPG distribution centers to help maintain order.KarnatakaKarnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the state government will discuss LPG shortage in the cabinet meeting.“There are some issues with gas supply; there is no access to gas. This creates problems for everyone. People have to have all the facilities they need for food. We don’t know what will happen in the coming days,” he told reporters.Shivakumar urged the Center to take immediate action to resolve the issue, otherwise farmers in Karnataka will have to use firewood as an alternative.Meanwhile, the Karnataka Hotels Association has called for reallocation of some commercial LPG cylinders for commercial purposes to ensure that kitchens across Bengaluru continue to function smoothly.biharIn state capital Patna, District Magistrate Thiyagarajan SM said the administrative agency was working proactively to ensure that domestic LPG consumers do not face any inconvenience.“Any form of laxity, negligence or irregularity will not be tolerated. We have also issued instructions to immediately register an FIR and arrest the agency or individual concerned if a complaint of black marketing, hoarding or high-price sales is received,” he said.According to the district administration, bookings and deliveries are made through missed calls, SMS/IVRS, WhatsApp and OTP-based systems.The government has also issued a hotline number (0612-2219810) for seamless distribution and monitoring of LPG cylinder supply. The hotline will be open daily from 9am to 6pm to accept public complaints.Leaves for Block Supply Officers and Assistant District Supply Officers have been canceled till next order.The district administration has also set up 28 Quick Response Teams (QRT) to promptly resolve complaints related to supply of LPG cylinders.tamil naduChief Minister Stalin urged the public not to panic and ensure that the country has adequate fuel reserves.“The Tamil Nadu government will extend its full support to the Center in meeting any challenges posed by the international situation,” Stalin was quoted as saying in an official statement.He stressed that he had chaired a high-level review meeting and written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and concerned Union ministers on the shortage of cooking gas cylinders.The Tamil Nadu Petroleum Merchants Association also clarified that there is no shortage of petrol or diesel anywhere in the state. About 7,000 gas pumps across the state are regularly receiving fuel supplies, according to the agency.TelanganaCivil Supplies Minister N Uttam Reddy announced that the state government will meet representatives of oil marketing companies on Friday.He added that there has been no problem in the supply of LPG cylinders in the country so far.“In Telangana, domestic supply is 86 per cent and commercial supply is 14 per cent. So far, there is no problem with 86 per cent domestic supply. We have noticed some issues with commercial supply,” Reddy told reporters.Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao will also attend the meeting.Hyderabad Hotels Association president Ashok Reddy said hotels are trying to control the situation by utilizing existing stocks, while some others are using wood as fuel.(Institutional investment)