Govt says crude oil supplies secure, LPG distribution prioritised for households

The government on Wednesday said India’s crude oil supplies remain secure and urged consumers not to panic over LPG availability, noting that steps have been taken to ensure fair distribution amid geopolitical disruptions.Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery) in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said domestic LPG supplies are currently being prioritised, ANI quoted . “Currently, LPG is being directed to the domestic sector. For non-domestic LPG, priority is being given to essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions. The committee is consulting with state authorities and industry bodies to finalise the plan to ensure that available LPG is distributed fairly and transparently,” she said.“Our gas companies have procured LNG cargos from new sources. Two LNG cargos are on their way to India,” Sujata Sharma added.The ministry oficial also said there is no need for panic booking of LPG cylinders as the normal delivery cycle for domestic households remains about 2.5 days. It added that government measures have resulted in a 25 per cent increase in LPG production.Officials further noted that crude oil is being sourced through routes other than the Strait of Hormuz, and overall supplies are now more secure than the volumes that were earlier disrupted, according to the ministry.State-run Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) said LPG supplies are being rationed due to disruptions caused by the prevailing geopolitical situation and a blockade on imports.“Due to the current geopolitical situation and blockade on LPG imports, available supplies are being carefully rationed to ensure wider coverage, with domestic households being the top priority. Other requests are being reviewed by a joint committee of LPG Executive Directors from BPCL, IOC, and HPCL, with allocations being considered based on criticality.” BPCL said.“We would like to assure all citizens that the Government is making all efforts to ensure the free passage of LPG imports with hopes that normal supply conditions will resume soon.” it added.