Government Monitors Fuel Supply Amid West Asia Tensions; LPG Production Up 36%
Oil Marketing Companies have reported no fuel shortages at retail outlets, and the government has urged citizens to avoid panic buying
The Government of India on Monday said it is closely monitoring fuel supplies and the welfare of Indian nationals amid the evolving geopolitical situation in West Asia, particularly following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
During an inter-ministerial media briefing at the National Media Centre, the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and External Affairs provided updates on energy supplies, maritime operations and the safety of Indian citizens in the region.
Fuel Supply and Energy Availability
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said all refineries across the country are operating at high capacity and maintaining adequate crude inventories. India currently remains self-sufficient in petrol and diesel production, and there is no requirement for imports to meet domestic demand.
Oil Marketing Companies have reported no fuel shortages at retail outlets, and the government has urged citizens to avoid panic buying.
To ensure uninterrupted energy supply, the government has also increased domestic LPG production by about 36 percent.
LPG Supply and Monitoring
Officials confirmed that LPG supplies remain stable, with no reported dry-outs at distributorships. The government is closely monitoring the situation in view of the geopolitical developments.
Online LPG cylinder bookings have increased significantly from around 84 percent to about 90 percent, while the Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) system coverage has expanded from 53 percent to nearly 72 percent, aimed at preventing diversion of LPG cylinders.
State Governments and Union Territories have also issued orders regulating the distribution of non-domestic LPG cylinders in line with central guidelines.
PNG Promotion by CGD Companies
City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies are actively promoting Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections to reduce pressure on LPG demand.
Several incentives have been announced, including:
- Free gas worth ₹500 for domestic consumers by Indraprastha Gas Limited and GAIL Gas Limited
- Waiver of registration charges for domestic PNG connections by Mahanagar Gas Limited
- Waiver of security deposits for commercial connections by BPCL
Commercial establishments such as hotels, hospitals, restaurants and hostels have been encouraged to switch to PNG wherever pipeline networks are available.
Measures to Prevent Hoarding
State Governments have intensified enforcement action to prevent hoarding and black marketing of petrol, diesel and LPG.
Raids have been conducted in several states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Mizoram. Officials from PSU Oil Marketing Companies have also carried out surprise inspections at more than 1,100 retail outlets and LPG distributorships.
Shipping and Maritime Updates
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said all Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf region are safe and no incidents involving Indian vessels have been reported in the last 24 hours.
Two LPG carriers that crossed the Strait of Hormuz on March 14 are expected to reach India shortly:
- LPG carrier Shivalik is scheduled to berth at Mundra Port today.
- LPG carrier Nanda Devi is expected to arrive early tomorrow morning.
Another vessel, Jag Laadki, carrying about 80,800 MT of Murban crude oil from the UAE, is safely en route to India.
Indian Nationals in West Asia
The Ministry of External Affairs said the safety of Indian nationals in the region remains the government’s highest priority.
The Embassy of India in Tehran remains fully operational, while Indian students have been relocated from several areas to safer locations within Iran.
More than 550 Indians have crossed into Armenia from Iran, while around 90 have crossed into Azerbaijan with assistance from the Indian mission.
Since February 28, 2026, around 2.2 lakh passengers have returned to India from West Asia and Gulf countries.
Meanwhile, flight operations from Dubai are gradually resuming, with over 45 flights scheduled to operate to India today, while limited flights are also operating from Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
Government Advisory
The government has urged citizens not to panic, assuring that adequate stocks of LPG and other fuels are available.
Consumers have been encouraged to use digital platforms such as IVRS, SMS, WhatsApp and mobile applications for LPG bookings and to avoid unnecessary visits to distributors.
Authorities have also advised households and commercial users to consider alternate fuels such as PNG and electric cooktops wherever feasible.
