Agencies | New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a high-level meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to review the country’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) situation amid concerns over disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
The meeting focused on assessing the impact of the Iran war on global energy supplies and ensuring that India’s domestic fuel availability remains stable.
Amid mounting pressure on global oil and gas markets, the Union government has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to protect the domestic fuel market from potential supply disruptions.
The Petroleum Ministry said a control order has been issued directing refineries and petrochemical units to increase LPG production and divert key hydrocarbon streams into the LPG pool to ensure uninterrupted availability of cooking gas across the country.
Officials said the move also formalises a priority framework for natural gas allocation in view of supply constraints. Under the revised guidelines, domestic piped natural gas (PNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) used for transport will receive 100 per cent assured supply, while other sectors may face calibrated limits based on their average consumption over the past six months.
State-run oil marketing companies — Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation — have also stepped up efforts to boost LPG output and secure adequate stocks for both domestic consumers and essential non-domestic sectors.
In a joint statement, the companies said the government has prioritised LPG supply for households as well as critical sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions. A committee of three executive directors from the oil marketing companies has also been constituted to review requests from other sectors and determine supply priorities.
Officials said the measures are aimed at stabilising the domestic fuel market and ensuring that essential services and households remain unaffected despite geopolitical tensions impacting global energy supply chains.
