Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday, 29 June said India successfully moved more than 12 LPG vessels through the Strait of Hormuz without paying any tolls, and rapidly reconfigured domestic refineries to ramp up cooking gas output — steps he credited with shielding Indian consumers during what he described as the largest energy disruption in modern history.

The Hormuz Crisis and India's Response

Puri said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz lasted for nearly four months, triggering a global energy emergency. Despite the severity of the disruption, India moved its LPG fleet through the strait without toll payments, according to the minister. 'Over 12 Indian LPG vessels were quietly moved out of Hormuz without paying any tolls,' Puri wrote in a post on social media platform X.

The government simultaneously diversified crude oil import sources, expanded energy infrastructure, and secured alternative LPG supplies from multiple countries to prevent domestic shortages.

Refinery Reconfiguration and LPG Output Surge

Among the most striking operational moves was the rapid reconfiguration of refineries that had never previously produced cooking gas. Within days, these facilities were repurposed, lifting LPG production from 35 thousand metric tonnes (TMT) per day to 54 TMT per day — a jump of more than 54%. The scale and speed of this turnaround, according to Puri, was central to keeping household cooking gas supplies stable.

Key Measures to Protect Consumers

Beyond the supply-side interventions, the government introduced a ₹10-per-litre reduction in central excise duty on fuel in March as part of its crisis response. Puri also said digital authentication codes were made mandatory for cooking gas deliveries to prevent diversion by black marketeers. 'Cooking gas going to homes was protected in full and digital authentication code was made mandatory to prevent diversion of this precious supply by black marketers,' he said.

New Supply Arrangements with Algeria, Japan, Canada and the US

India established fresh LPG supply arrangements with Algeria, Japan, and Canada during the crisis, while additional cargoes were secured from the United States to meet domestic demand. The diversification of supply chains, Puri argued, was a key reason India avoided the price spikes and shortages seen elsewhere in the world.

The Broader Claim

'Even as the world faced one of the worst energy crises and disrupted supply chains, India under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi effectively shielded the energy consumers from any negative impact,' Puri said. The minister's remarks come as India positions its crisis management record as a model for energy security amid ongoing geopolitical volatility in the Middle East. Whether independent audits of the LPG production figures and toll-free transit claims will follow remains to be seen.