'Steps being taken to boost LPG production, prioritise domestic supply'

Staterun Indian Oil Corporation has said steps are being taken to enhance liquefied petroleum gas LPG production and prioritise supplies for domestic consumers and essential sectors in view of global fuel supply disruptions caused by ongoing geopolitical tensionsIn a post on social media platform X the company said LPG availability is being prioritised for households as well as essential nondomestic sectors such as hospitals and educational institutionsldquoIn light of current geopolitical disruptions affecting global fuel supply steps have been taken to enhance LPG production and prioritise its availability for domestic consumers and essential nondomestic sectors such as hospitals and educational institutionsrdquo the company saidIn light of current geopolitical disruptions affecting global fuel supply steps have been taken to enhance LPG production and prioritise its availability for domestic consumers and essential nondomestic sectors such as hospitals and educational institutionsRequests from otherhellip pictwittercomtvAftzauu4mdash Indian Oil Corp Ltd IndianOilcl March 10 2026Requests from other nondomestic sectors will be examined by a committee of executive directors from oil marketing companies and prioritised based on merit necessity and product availability the company addedIndiarsquos three public sector oil marketing companies mdash Indian Oil Corporation Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited mdash jointly handle the distribution of LPG across the countryThe development comes as the Centre has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to ensure uninterrupted supply of domestic cooking gas after reports of a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders from sectors such as hotels and restaurantsWest Asia conflict Refineries asked to maximise LPG productionUnder the move refineries and petrochemical units have been directed to maximise LPG production and divert key hydrocarbon streams to the LPG pool to boost availability and stabilise supplies for household consumptionThe government has also issued the Natural Gas Supply Regulation Order 2026 to regulate production and sectorwise allocation of natural gas including liquefied natural gas LNG and regasified LNG with priority being given to critical sectorsThese sectors include domestic piped natural gas PNG supply compressed natural gas CNG for transport LPG production pipeline compressor fuel requirements fertiliser plants tea industries and other key industrial consumersImplementation of the regulation has been entrusted to GAIL India Limited in coordination with the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell PPAC which will oversee adherence to the sectorwise allocation frameworkMeanwhile the government has increased the minimum waiting period for booking a domestic LPG cylinder refill from 21 days to 25 days to prevent hoarding amid signs of panic buying linked to fears of supply disruptions due to the escalating conflict in the Middle EastOfficials said there is adequate LPG supply in the country and the extended booking interval has been introduced primarily to manage inventory efficientlyWest Asia conflict LPG demand rises 15ndash20 per cent amid panic bookingAccording to officials LPG demand had surged by around 15 to 20 per cent in recent days due to panic booking An average household typically consumes seven to eight LPG cylinders of 142 kg in a year and generally does not require a refill in less than six weeksA senior official told news agency IANS said that retail prices of petrol and diesel are unlikely to be raised for now with oil marketing companies expected to absorb the current cost pressures while the government continues to monitor global oil markets closelyParliament was also informed that India currently has crude oil and petroleum product storage capacity sufficient for about 74 days which can help the country manage supply disruptions in case of adverse geopolitical developmentsWith IANS inputs