Cooking fuel rates were unchanged in major Indian cities on April 24, even as global oil prices rose for the fifth straight day. While domestic LPG prices have been revised only once, cooking gas prices have been revised twice in recent months.
In particular, the center increased the price of a 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder ₹60 in March. However, no rate revisions have been made since then, keeping domestic LPG prices stable across the country.
Meanwhile, the price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder was first increased ₹144 in March, followed by another hike of almost ₹200 on 1st April. The double hike has hit diners, restaurants and other businesses hard as they rely on cooking fuel for their day-to-day operations.
The price hike follows the outbreak of conflict in West Asia on February 28, which is now in its eighth week. Tensions between the US and Iran have led to a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for energy supplies, cutting off oil supplies.
The government has increased the rates of industrial diesel, premium petrol and jet fuel
As petrol and diesel prices remain relatively stable over the period due to government interventions and excise duty cuts, other fuels such as aviation turbine fuel (ATF), diesel and premium petrol have seen appreciable increases.
The price of premium gasoline was increased by ₹2.35 per liter from March 20, according to media reports. “The prices of Bharat Petroleum’s Speed, Hindustan Petroleum’s Power and Indian Oil’s XP95 have been increased by ₹2.09– ₹2.35/litre,” ANI reported.
India’s state-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) have sharply hiked industrial diesel prices, with the increases exceeding ₹22 per litre, according to Mint. This was also announced in March.
Meanwhile, the price of ATF, or jet fuel, has more than doubled to a record high ₹2.07 lakh per kiloliter in March. However, the government has only left domestic airlines with a 25% incremental increase in an attempt to protect ticket prices.
Check LPG prices for the city on April 24
CityDomestic (14.2 Kg)Commercial (19 Kg)New Delhi ₹913.00 ₹2,078.50 Calcutta ₹939.00 ₹2,208.50 Bombay ₹912.50 ₹2,031.00 chennai ₹928.50 ₹2,246.50 Gurgaon ₹921.50 ₹2,096.50 Noida ₹910.50 ₹2,078.50 Bengaluru ₹915.50 ₹2,161.00 Bhubaneshwar ₹939.00 ₹2,245.00 Chandigarh ₹922.50 ₹2,099.50 Hyderabad ₹965.00 ₹2,320.50 of Jaipur ₹916.50 ₹2,106.00 Lucknow ₹950.50 ₹2,201.00 Patna ₹1,002.50 ₹2,353.50
What measures has India taken to protect households from rising energy costs?
According to Reuters, India plans to review fuel exports if needed to ensure availability in local markets. It also assesses fuel supply requirements from its neighboring countries and will only approve exports if it has surplus volumes.
The government also banned piped natural gas consumers from storing or refilling LPG cylinders and used emergency powers to direct refineries to maximize production of LPG, widely used for cooking.
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In addition, the center is also encouraging households and industry to switch to alternative energy sources to ease pressure on domestic fuel supplies and reduce dependence on imports. The development comes after global oil prices jumped above $100 a barrel during the West Asian crisis.
“LPG is under pressure and that is why consumers are repeatedly asked to switch to other available energy sources – PNG or electric stoves,” Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, said at a media briefing on Monday.
