Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri is set to brief the Lok Sabha on India’s energy situation on Thursday amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has disrupted shipping lanes and raised concerns over global energy flows.
Tensions in the region have begun affecting key maritime routes used for oil and gas transport. Officials say the government wants to reassure Parliament that India’s fuel supplies remain stable despite the situation.
Sources said Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi will be present in the House during the discussion and may intervene when the issue is taken up.
India relying on diversified crude procurement
Speaking at an inter-ministerial press briefing on Wednesday, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said India’s crude supply remains stable because of diversified sourcing.
“India’s crude supply remains secure. Our daily consumption is about 55 lakh barrels. Through diversified procurement, the volumes we have secured today exceed what would normally have arrived through the Strait of Hormuz during this period,” Sharma said.
She added that India currently imports crude oil from nearly 40 countries, allowing the country to reduce risks linked to disruptions in any single route or supplier.
According to Sharma, domestic refineries are running at full capacity, and in some cases even above capacity, to ensure a steady supply of petroleum products across the country.
LPG supplies being managed amid West Asia tensions
Officials acknowledged that LPG supplies have been affected by the regional tensions, but said the government has absorbed part of the rising cost to shield consumers.
“Currently, LPG is being directed to the domestic sector. For non-domestic LPG, priority is being given to essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions. The committee is consulting with state authorities and industry bodies to finalise the plan to ensure that available LPG is distributed fairly and transparently,” Sharma said.
India imports around 60 per cent of its LPG requirement, and nearly 90 per cent of these imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making the route critical for supplies.
To boost domestic availability, the government has asked refining and petrochemical units to optimise LPG production. Sharma said these efforts have already increased domestic LPG output by about 25 per cent.
Most of this additional production is being directed towards household consumers to ensure cooking gas availability.
Government urges public not to panic book cylinders
Sharma also appealed to consumers not to rush to book LPG cylinders.
“As a temporary demand management measure, the minimum gap between LPG bookings has been increased from 21 days to 25 days,” she said.
She also noted that two LNG cargoes are currently on their way to India, which will help maintain gas supply for critical sectors.
The government has decided to prioritise gas allocation to sectors such as fertiliser manufacturing, tea production, and gas grid operations, which are considered vital for agriculture and industrial activity.