Fuel Supply Stable Amid Hormuz Tensions; Govt Urges Public Not to Panic Buy

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has assured that fuel supplies across India remain stable despite geopolitical tensions affecting the Strait of Hormuz, with robust measures in place to ensure uninterrupted availability of LPG and petroleum products.

An India-flagged LPG vessel, Green Asha, safely reached Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority on April 5 after crossing the Strait of Hormuz, reinforcing supply continuity.

Domestic LPG Supply Remains Normal

• Over 51.5 lakh domestic LPG cylinders delivered on April 8
• No reports of distributor dry-outs
• DAC-based delivery reached ~92%, curbing diversion
• Online bookings surged to 98%

Surge in 5-kg Cylinder Demand

• 1.06 lakh 5-kg FTL cylinders sold on April 8 (vs 77,000 avg in Feb 2026)
• Nearly 10 lakh cylinders sold since March 23
• Targeted distribution supporting students and migrant workers

PNG Adoption Gains Momentum

• Over 18,000 consumers surrendered LPG connections via MYPNGD.in
• 3.97 lakh PNG connections activated since March
• Additional 4.3 lakh consumers registered

Government Measures to Stabilise Supply

• Refinery output increased; crude inventories adequate
• LPG booking interval revised (urban: 25 days, rural: 45 days)
• Alternate fuels (kerosene, coal) deployed
• Coal supply enhanced via Coal India and Singareni Collieries
• Priority supply ensured for hospitals and essential sectors

Strict Enforcement Against Hoarding

• 3,300+ raids conducted in a single day; ~600 cylinders seized
• Total 1.16 lakh raids conducted nationwide
• PSU OMCs issued 1,870 show-cause notices, penalised 189 distributors, and suspended 53

Commercial LPG & Industry Support

• Allocation raised to 70% of pre-crisis levels
• Key sectors like pharma, food, steel, and agriculture covered
• 99,796 MT LPG supplied since March 14

Gas Supply & PNG Expansion

• 100% supply maintained for domestic PNG and CNG
• Fertilizer sector gas allocation increased to ~95%
• CGD networks expanding with fast-track approvals
• National PNG Drive 2.0 extended till June 30, 2026

Retail Fuel & Pricing

• Petrol and diesel supply normal nationwide
• Excise duty reduced by ₹10/litre
• Export duty imposed on diesel and ATF to ensure domestic availability
• Retail prices remain unchanged

Public Advisory

The government has urged citizens to:

• Avoid panic buying of fuel and LPG
• Use digital booking platforms
• Shift to PNG or electric cooking alternatives where possible
• Conserve energy

Bottom Line:
Despite global uncertainties, India’s fuel supply chain remains resilient, supported by strong logistics, policy interventions, and coordinated action between the Centre and States.