The Government of India has decided to restore commercial Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supplies to their pre-crisis levels, lifting the temporary restrictions that were imposed during supply disruptions caused by the recent tensions in West Asia.
In a letter addressed to Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories, Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary Dr Neeraj Mittal informed that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has withdrawn all restrictions on the supply of Non-Domestic Packed LPG. The decision comes as the overall supply situation has improved.
The ministry said commercial LPG supplies, which were earlier reduced to ensure uninterrupted cooking gas availability for households, will now return to normal levels.
Restrictions on bulk LPG supplies have also been eased, allowing supplies to be restored up to 50 per cent of the consumption levels recorded before the crisis.
According to the communication, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) will continue to maintain data on commercial and industrial consumers. The ministry is also considering the creation of a common database across the three public sector OMCs to improve monitoring and supply management.
Meanwhile, the Centre has once again encouraged the use of Piped Natural Gas (PNG). Commercial and bulk consumers who have already switched to PNG have been advised to continue using the cleaner fuel option.
The ministry further said that consumers who have access to PNG networks, or are in the process of getting connected, should be permanently shifted to PNG wherever possible.
Oil Marketing Companies and City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities will work together to facilitate this transition, while a regular reporting system will be introduced to track progress and submit updates to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
The move is expected to bring relief to hotels, restaurants, industries and other commercial establishments that faced LPG supply constraints during the recent geopolitical tensions in West Asia.