More than 67,000 cylinders have been seized in various raids nationwide to tackle hoarding and black marketing of cooking gas since March, as per the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Over 1,160 FIRs have been filed, and 271 individuals have been arrested during this period. The government’s actions aim to combat those taking advantage of supply chain disruptions due to the Middle East conflict.
Public sector oil companies have intensified surprise inspections and imposed penalties on 316 LPG distributorships, with 72 distributorships suspended. Show cause notices were issued to 46 distributors, and penalties were levied on six, while one distributor was suspended. Online domestic LPG cylinder bookings have surged to 99%, and authentication code-based deliveries have risen to around 94% to prevent diversion at the distributor level.
Cooking gas supply remains stable, with no shortages reported at retail distributorships. Additionally, over 42,800 PNG consumers have surrendered their LPG connections via MyPNGD.in, easing pressure on LPG demand. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas assures that despite geopolitical challenges, the supply of cooking gas to households remains a priority.
Efforts are underway to ensure the uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG nationwide, given the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Citizens are advised against panic buying of petrol, diesel, and LPG, and to rely on official sources for accurate information. Refineries are operating at full capacity with ample crude inventories, and sufficient stocks of petrol, diesel, and increased local LPG production support domestic consumption.
