The government has banned gas users from buying cooking gas cylinders | Today’s news
New Delhi: The government has banned households with natural gas (PNG) connections from filling their liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders with immediate effect as India struggles to maintain cooking gas supplies amid war-related disruptions in West Asia. Consumers switching to PNG must surrender or obtain a transfer voucher within 30 days for an LPG connection in the future at any location not connected to PNG, according to a gazette notification issued on Monday.
The move follows a March government order asking PNG consumers to give up LPG connections within three months. LPG supplies remain under pressure due to the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has choked energy imports from West Asia.
“A person or household who has a domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connection and subsequently obtained a natural gas (PNG) pipeline connection must not immediately fill a domestic LPG cylinder and must either apply for termination of the LPG connection or accept an LPG transfer voucher in a future LPG-PNG connection voucher within thirty days from the date of obtaining the PNG connection.”
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas also said that consumers who have switched to PNG can get a transfer voucher to restore their previous connection if they happen to relocate to an area where gas pipeline infrastructure is not available.
“This amendment provides significant relief and flexibility to consumers who may subsequently move to areas where PNG’s infrastructure may not be feasible,” the ministry said. “The provision is of particular benefit to transferable employees, migrant households, tenants, students and/or families relocating to areas outside of PNG.”
The annual consumption of LPG in India is about 33 million tonnes. The West Asia War and the Strait of Hormuz blockade have hit India’s LPG supply hard, as about 90% of its cooking gas imports used to come from West Asia. Now the government has diversified into other fuel markets, including the US, Canada and Norway.
The Petroleum Ministry claimed that LPG supply continues to be affected by the prevailing geopolitical situation in West Asia. However, she noted that LPG deliveries to households were prioritized and no drought was reported at LPG distributors,
“About 1.72 lakh LPG cylinders have been supplied during the last four days against bookings of around 1.66 lakh LPG cylinders,” said Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
