New Delhi, March 11, 2026 — The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Wednesday assured citizens that domestic LPG production has risen by 25% following emergency directives to refineries, emphasising that there is no shortage for households and no reason to indulge in panic booking of cylinders.
Joint Secretary Sujata Sharma told an inter-ministerial briefing that on March 8, the government instructed refineries and petrochemical units to maximise LPG output by diverting all available C3 and C4 hydrocarbon streams — including propane, propylene, butane and butene — into the LPG pool. These supplies are being channelled exclusively to public sector oil marketing companies (Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum) for domestic distribution. “As a result, our domestic LPG production has increased by 25%,” Sharma stated.
The ministry stressed that the measures, combined with steps taken over the past couple of years, have strengthened supply security. “Refineries have been asked to maximise LPG production. Priority has been given to household supply,” Sharma added, noting that India meets 60% of its LPG needs through imports, with nearly 90% of these passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
The announcement comes amid supply concerns triggered by geopolitical tensions in West Asia, including disruptions from the ongoing conflict and force majeure declarations by some Gulf suppliers. India has responded by sourcing crude oil and LPG through alternative routes and destinations, with refineries operating at full capacity. Two crude cargoes and two LNG cargoes are currently en route, officials said.
To further stabilise the situation and prevent hoarding, the government has increased the minimum gap between domestic LPG cylinder bookings from 21 to 25 days. Domestic households remain the top priority, with essential non-domestic users such as hospitals and educational institutions also receiving preference. A joint committee of oil company executives is monitoring allocations for commercial and other sectors.
Oil marketing companies, including Bharat Petroleum, have reiterated that supplies are being carefully rationed to ensure wider coverage, with domestic consumers given precedence. “There is no nationwide LPG crisis,” the government maintained, adding that normal delivery cycles for households (around 2.5 days on average) continue uninterrupted.
Some reports of long queues and panic booking have surfaced in cities like Delhi and Bhopal, prompting local administrations and state leaders — including Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and officials in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh — to urge the public against hoarding. The Union Home Secretary has directed states to act strictly against black-marketing.
The ministry has absorbed part of the recent cost increase to keep domestic LPG prices stable (a 14.2 kg cylinder currently costs ₹913 in Delhi). Without intervention, market prices would have been significantly higher, officials noted.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and the ministry have repeatedly assured that “India is importing energy from alternative sources and routes; no LPG shortage, no reason to panic.” Consumers have also been advised to adopt simple conservation measures, such as using pressure cookers, to optimise usage.
With over 33 crore active LPG connections in the country, the government said it remains fully committed to ensuring affordable and uninterrupted cooking gas supply to every household. Supplies are expected to stabilise further in the coming days as additional imports arrive and domestic production ramps up.
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