New Delhi, March 12 (NationPress) The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas announced on Thursday that the government is implementing all necessary measures to guarantee a steady supply of energy, with 5 million LPG cylinders being distributed daily. Therefore, consumers are encouraged to refrain from "panic booking" cooking gas.

Crude oil is imported from over 40 nations, with 70% now sourced from alternatives to the currently closed Strait of Hormuz, as revealed in a ministry statement.

India’s daily oil demand stands at 5.5 million barrels, making it the fourth largest refiner globally with 22 operational refineries. Additionally, these refineries are functioning at high capacity, often exceeding 100%. This extensive refining capability places the country in a favorable position regarding the availability of petroleum products amid the Iranian war crisis, the statement noted.

There are more than 100,000 retail outlets offering petroleum products, all of which are sufficiently stocked.

Although the supply of natural gas has been impacted due to force majeure circumstances, efforts to procure through alternative routes and suppliers are already in progress to mitigate this disruption. To effectively manage the situation, the government has enacted a Natural Gas Control Order under the Essential Commodities Act to prioritize the supply, according to the statement.

While the global landscape remains challenging, the government has undertaken numerous initiatives to sustain the demand-supply equilibrium. These initiatives involve increasing LPG production by refineries, with the total output of C3 and C4 hydrocarbon streams, including propane, butane, and propylene, being exclusively allocated to the three oil marketing companies for domestic cooking gas. As a result, LPG production has surged by 28% in the past five days through refinery instructions. Further procurement efforts are actively being pursued, the statement added.

With over 25,000 distributors nationwide, there have been no reports of 'dry out.' More than 50 lakh cylinders are delivered daily. However, recent booking rates for LPG cylinders have spiked due to panic. Consumers are thus urged to avoid panic booking, collaborate with authorities, and conserve fuel whenever possible during this period of global uncertainty, the statement emphasized.

For non-domestic LPG, priority is being extended to crucial sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions.

A three-member committee consisting of Executive Directors from IOCL, HPCL, and BPCL has been established to evaluate allocations for restaurants, hotels, and other commercial users. The committee is in consultation with state authorities and industry bodies to finalize a strategy for fair and transparent distribution of available LPG. A significant decision has been made to allocate 20% of the average monthly commercial LPG requirements from today by OMCs, in collaboration with state governments, to prevent hoarding or black marketing.

To alleviate pressure on LPG and gas channels, alternative fuel options are being activated. Kerosene is being made available through retail and PDS outlets, while fuel oil is being supplied to industrial and commercial consumers.

The Ministry of Environment has advised State Pollution Control Boards to temporarily permit the use of biomass, RDF pellets, and kerosene/coal as alternative fuels for the hospitality and restaurant sector for one month, allowing a broader array of establishments to switch and free up LPG for priority consumers.

The Ministry of Coal has also mandated the allocation of increased quantities of coal to state-nominated agencies for small and medium consumers.