Amid the evolving situation in West Asia, the Centre on Wednesday said more than 50.8 lakh domestic LPG cylinders and over 73,000 5-kg Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinders were delivered in the last 24 hours, underscoring efforts to maintain uninterrupted energy supply and prevent panic buying.
At an inter-ministerial media briefing held at the National Media Centre, officials from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, External Affairs, and Ports, Shipping and Waterways outlined coordinated measures being taken to ensure fuel availability, maritime safety, and the welfare of Indian nationals in the region.
Fuel supply stable, no price hike
The government assured that adequate stocks of petrol and diesel are available across all retail outlets in the country, with no change in prices. Authorities urged citizens to avoid panic buying and rely only on official information.
Officials highlighted that all refineries are operating at high capacity and domestic LPG production has been ramped up to meet demand. Public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) have also intensified monitoring to curb hoarding and black marketing, conducting over 2,200 raids nationwide in the past day.
Auto LPG consumption has also seen a sharp rise, with average sales in April reaching 353 metric tonnes per day—nearly double the 177 MT/day recorded in January and February.
Priority supply and alternative fuel push
The government said domestic LPG, PNG, and CNG supplies are being maintained at 100 per cent levels, with priority given to households and critical sectors such as healthcare and education. Additional kerosene allocation and coal supplies have been arranged to ease pressure on LPG demand.
Consumers have been encouraged to adopt alternative energy sources such as PNG and electric cooking solutions. Expansion of city gas distribution (CGD) networks is being accelerated, with lakhs of new PNG connections already added since March.
Maritime operations remain normal
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) reported that shipping operations remain stable despite tensions in the Persian Gulf. All Indian-flagged vessels and seafarers are safe, with no incidents reported in the past 24 hours.
More than 2,829 Indian seafarers have been repatriated so far, including 29 in the last day. Port operations across India continue without congestion, ensuring smooth export-import activity.
Indian nationals assisted in region
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it is closely monitoring developments and maintaining round-the-clock coordination with Indian missions abroad. So far, 2,464 Indian nationals have been assisted in exiting Iran through land border routes.
Flight operations from several Gulf countries—including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain—are gradually stabilising, though some routes remain limited due to security considerations. Indian nationals have been advised to avoid non-essential travel to sensitive areas and follow official advisories.
Strong enforcement and coordination
Authorities said states and union territories have activated control rooms and monitoring mechanisms under the Essential Commodities Act to prevent hoarding and ensure equitable distribution. Surprise inspections and penalties against erring LPG distributors have also been stepped up.
Reiterating its commitment to energy security and public welfare, the government said coordinated efforts across ministries and state administrations are ensuring stability in supplies despite global uncertainties.
