New Delhi, April 24: India recorded the delivery of more than 51.8 lakh domestic LPG cylinders in a single day on Saturday, with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas confirming that cooking gas supply remains fully stable — no dry-outs have been reported at any retail distributorship across the country. The update, released on Sunday, April 24, comes amid heightened concerns over energy security linked to the Strait of Hormuz crisis.

Record-Level Deliveries Amid Geopolitical Pressure

Despite global supply chain disruptions triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint through which a significant share of India's crude oil and LPG imports transit — domestic cooking gas supply has been deliberately prioritised by the government. This is a significant administrative achievement, given that overall LPG supply chains continue to face headwinds from the prevailing geopolitical situation.

The ministry confirmed that online domestic LPG cylinder bookings have surged to 98 per cent, while authentication code-based deliveries — sent to the registered mobile number of the consumer — have reached approximately 94 per cent. These digital safeguards are specifically designed to prevent diversion of subsidised cylinders at the distributor level, a long-standing vulnerability in the LPG supply chain.

PNG Expansion and LPG Surrender Drive

Parallel to LPG distribution, the government's piped natural gas (PNG) expansion is gaining momentum. 5.45 lakh PNG connections have been gasified, and infrastructure for an additional 2.62 lakh connections has been created since March 2025. This push is part of India's broader energy transition strategy to reduce dependence on cylinder-based LPG delivery.

Notably, more than 42,500 PNG consumers have voluntarily surrendered their LPG connections through the government portal MYPNGD.in — a clear indicator that piped gas adoption is accelerating in urban and semi-urban areas. As PNG penetration grows, it eases pressure on the cylinder distribution ecosystem, particularly during supply-stress periods like the current one.

Commercial LPG Sales and Monthly Totals

On the commercial front, over 9,131 metric tonnes (MT) of commercial LPG — equivalent to more than 4.8 lakh 19-kg cylinders — was sold on Saturday alone. The cumulative commercial LPG sold this month has reached 1,64,655 MT, equivalent to more than 86.66 lakh 19-kg cylinders, reflecting robust demand from the hospitality, industrial, and small business sectors.

Crackdown on Hoarding and Black Marketing

Enforcement operations are running at full intensity. More than 2,100 raids were conducted across India on Saturday alone to crack down on hoarding and black market diversion of LPG. Public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) have escalated surprise inspections, resulting in penalties imposed on 310 LPG distributorships and the suspension of 70 distributorships so far.

This crackdown reflects a pattern seen during past supply-stress events — including the COVID-19 lockdown period in 2020 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, both of which triggered speculative hoarding of essential commodities. The government's swift enforcement response this time signals lessons learned from those episodes.

Refinery Operations and Government Advisory

All Indian refineries are currently operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, the ministry stated. Local LPG production from refineries has been ramped up to supplement imports and support domestic consumption — a critical buffer strategy as import-route uncertainties persist.

The government has issued a clear public advisory: citizens must avoid panic purchasing of petrol, diesel, and LPG, and should rely only on official sources for information. LPG consumers are urged to use digital booking platforms — such as the respective OMC apps and portals — and avoid visiting distributors in person to reduce congestion and potential diversion risks.

As the geopolitical situation around the Strait of Hormuz continues to evolve, India's energy security posture will be closely watched. With refinery buffers in place and enforcement tightened, the government's next challenge will be sustaining these supply levels if the global disruption prolongs beyond the coming weeks.