New Delhi, March 13 (NationPress) Nitin Khara, the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Confidence Petroleum India Limited (CPIL), announced on Friday that oil marketing companies (OMCs) are diligently working to ensure the continuous distribution of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) throughout India, despite the global turmoil caused by the conflict in Iran.

In an interview with IANS, Khara emphasized that even though worldwide events have posed challenges for LPG supplies, the company's main goal is to guarantee uninterrupted access for both dealers and consumers across the nation.

He mentioned that CPIL is actively monitoring the LPG supply situation on a daily basis.

“Each morning, we evaluate the best methods to secure gas supply for that day. Dealers from every corner of the country are in constant contact with us, and we strive to facilitate timely deliveries,” he stated, noting that some issues have arisen due to restricted availability.

Khara elaborated that LPG importers are currently grappling with significant logistical challenges, as two LPG vessels have become stranded near ports, preventing them from entering or exiting. This has disrupted the normal supply chain.

Typically, the company imports around 40,000 metric tonnes of LPG each month, but this ongoing situation has impacted this regular cycle, Khara shared with IANS.

He indicated that the original plan was to offload approximately 850 metric tonnes from the shipment, with the remainder designated for Norway-based energy company Equinor’s Malaysian operations as per a prior agreement.

While there was no formal purchase agreement, CPIL generally upholds its commitments, he noted.

Nevertheless, several dealers have requested that this gas be directed towards Indian consumers instead.

“In light of these requests, we are considering the potential of utilizing available LPG within India to assist domestic consumers,” Khara stated.

He also mentioned that state governments have proposed unloading the gas locally to bolster supplies in the domestic market.

If the LPG is retained within India, it could provide an additional supply for approximately 12 to 13 days, potentially offering some relief to the market.

Khara concluded that the ongoing global conflict and associated disruptions have adversely affected LPG production and supply.

Even if the situation returns to normal immediately, it may take nearly four months for the entire supply chain to stabilize due to refinery damage, limited production, and a shortage of LPG vessels.