Government Confirms Normal LPG Supply with 55 Lakh Refills Delivered
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, March 29 (NationPress) The distribution of domestic LPG cylinders is currently stable across the nation, with over 55 lakh refills completed on Saturday alone. Additionally, approximately 64,000 free trade 5 kg cylinders have been sold, and the Ministry of Petroleum confirmed that there have been no reports of dry-outs at LPG distributorships as of Sunday.
There has been a significant rise in online bookings for LPG cylinders, reaching 94 percent on an industry level. To mitigate the risk of diversion at the distributor level, the implementation of Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) based deliveries has surged from 53 percent in February to 84 percent, as stated in the announcement.
All refineries are functioning at optimal capacity, supported by sufficient crude inventories. The nation is also ensuring an adequate supply of petrol and diesel. Domestic LPG production from refineries has been escalated to cater to rising consumption needs. Furthermore, all petrol stations are operational across the country.
The government encourages citizens to book LPG refills online to avoid unnecessary trips to distributorships. Moreover, residents are advised to consider alternative fuels such as PNG and induction or electric cooktops. Energy conservation in daily activities has also been emphasized.
Given the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, proactive steps are being taken to ensure the uninterrupted supply of petroleum products and LPG throughout the country.
Some rumors have caused panic buying at retail locations in certain states, leading to an unexpected surge in sales and overcrowding. However, it has been reassured that ample stocks of petrol and diesel are available at all petrol stations nationwide. The government has urged the public to refrain from believing in unfounded rumors.
Authorities continue to conduct raids in various states and Union Territories to combat hoarding and black marketing of LPG. Approximately 2,900 raids have been executed, resulting in the seizure of around 1,000 cylinders on Saturday alone.
Officials from public sector oil marketing companies performed surprise inspections at more than 1,200 petrol and LPG distributorships across the country to ensure continuous supply and to check for hoarding or black marketing. To date, around 480 show cause notices have been issued to LPG distributorships.