LPG Booking Rules: The war in the Middle East has increased uncertainty in the global energy market. Its impact is being felt in India as well. Meanwhile, the central government has made some changes to the rules for booking LPG cylinders to ensure that gas supplies reach all consumers effectively.
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri informed Parliament that a 45-day waiting period has now been set for the next LPG cylinder booking in rural areas. This means that once a cylinder is purchased, rural consumers will have to wait at least 45 days for the next booking. In urban areas, this time limit has been set at 25 days. The government says this step has been taken to prevent panic booking and hoarding.
Just a few days ago, the government extended the LPG booking period in cities from 21 days to 25. According to the Petroleum Ministry, while many domestic consumers previously booked cylinders once every 55 days, they were now rebooking within 15 days. This was increasing pressure on supply.
Priority given to domestic consumers
According to Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the government’s primary goal is to maintain a regular supply of cooking gas to households. India imports approximately 60% of its LPG needs, and approximately 90% of this comes through the Strait of Hormuz. Therefore, if there is a supply disruption, it is essential to ensure that domestic consumers are provided with gas first. Therefore, a slight reduction in the supply of LPG and LNG to certain industrial and commercial sectors has been implemented to ensure a regular supply of gas to over 330 million households in the country.
No need to panic and book a cylinder
The government has appealed to the public not to panic over reports of gas shortages and rush to book cylinders. According to the ministry, there is currently sufficient LPG stock to meet domestic needs. Furthermore, the country’s refineries have increased LPG production by approximately 25%. Furthermore, India has also explored alternatives to source crude oil from other countries in the event of supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, to minimize significant energy supply disruptions.