Government asks refineries to boost LPG for homes amid Middle East crisis

NEW DELHI: The government has directed oil refineries to increase the production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and divert the additional output for domestic household use in view of geopolitical disruptions affecting fuel supplies, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas announceed on Monday.The move comes amid constraints in LPG availability due to global supply pressures, prompting the ministry to prioritise cooking gas supply for households.As part of the measures, the government has increased the minimum waiting period for booking a domestic LPG refill from 21 days to 25 days. The step is aimed at preventing hoarding and black marketing while ensuring equitable distribution of cylinders, sources said.The ministry has asked refineries to maximise LPG recovery and channel the incremental production towards domestic consumption to maintain stable supplies for households.For non-domestic consumption, the government has decided to prioritise supplies from imported LPG for essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions.Meanwhile, a committee comprising three executive directors of oil marketing companies (OMCs) has been constituted to examine requests for LPG supply from other non-domestic users, including restaurants, hotels and industries.The panel will review representations from these sectors and take decisions on supply allocations based on availability and priority requirements, sources said.The measures are part of the government’s contingency planning to manage LPG distribution amid uncertainties in the global energy market and to ensure uninterrupted supply of cooking gas to households.