More than 97 lakh domestic LPG cylinders were delivered against bookings of around 87.66 lakh cylinders in the last two days, with online bookings for cooking gas rising to 99 per cent, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said on Wednesday, 8 May. The update comes as the government moves to reassure citizens amid supply anxiety linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Supply Position and Delivery Authentication

The ministry confirmed that domestic LPG supply remains normal, with 95 per cent of deliveries authenticated via a code sent to the registered mobile numbers of consumers — a measure specifically designed to prevent diversion at the distributor level. Notably, no dry-outs have been reported at any retail distributorship across the country despite ongoing disruptions stemming from the West Asian crisis.

Around 1.11 lakh small 5 kg LPG cylinders were also sold during the same two-day period. Since 3 April, public sector oil companies have organised more than 10,700 awareness camps to promote the use of small cylinders, particularly among migrant workers in urban areas.

Commercial LPG and PNG Connections

On the commercial side, more than 15,493 metric tonnes of commercial LPG — equivalent to over 8.15 lakh 19 kg cylinders — were sold in the last two days. A three-member committee of Executive Directors from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) — in consultation with state authorities and industry bodies — finalises the commercial LPG distribution plan for all states and Union Territories.

On the piped natural gas front, about 6.5 lakh PNG connections have been gasified, with infrastructure created for an additional 2.66 lakh connections, taking the total to 9.16 lakh connections. A further 7.08 lakh customers have been registered for new connections.

Enforcement: Raids, Penalties, and Suspensions

Enforcement actions to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG continue across the country. More than 2,000 raids were conducted on Thursday alone. Public sector oil companies have imposed penalties on 378 LPG distributorships, and 76 distributorships have been suspended as of Thursday. Surprise inspections have been strengthened as part of a broader crackdown on supply-chain malpractice.

Petrol, Diesel, and Refinery Operations

Retail prices for petrol and diesel remain unchanged despite a global spike in crude oil prices, and adequate stocks of both fuels are available at all petrol pumps of public sector oil companies — including Indian Oil, BPCL, and HPCL — across the country. All refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, and local LPG production from refineries has been increased to support domestic consumption.

The ministry has advised citizens to avoid panic purchases of petrol, diesel, and LPG, to disregard rumours, and to rely on official sources for accurate information. LPG consumers have been specifically urged to use digital booking platforms and avoid visiting distributors in person. The government says it is taking steps to ensure uninterrupted availability of all petroleum products despite the Strait of Hormuz closure.