Govt. bars PNG users from retaining or refilling LPG connections

Seeking to ensure a steady supply to domestic consumers exclusively availing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) amid the impact on imports due to tensions in West Asia, the government on Saturday (March 14, 2026) mandated that individuals with a piped natural gas (PNG) connection will neither be allowed to obtain a new LPG connection nor retain an existing additional connection of liquefied petroleum gas. The amended supply order also bars them from obtaining any refill.

Further, the order states that individuals having both LPG and natural gas connections at present “immediately surrender their domestic LPG connection”.

The order comes amid imports of cooking gas being affected because of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing tensions in West Asia. For context, India imports about 60% of its overall cooking gas requirements. Of this, around 90% is routed through the Strait of Hormuz.

It is also to be noted that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, in two separate maintenance orders, had directed that all propane and butane, among other streams, be utilised to spur the production of cooking gas. LPG is a mixture of propane and butane. The orders had also directed that public sector oil marketing companies ensure that these supplies are directed to domestic LPG consumers.

Domestic LPG production up about 31%

Addressing reporters at an inter ministerial briefing on Saturday (March 14, 2026), Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), said that production of cooking gas has increased by about 31% as on date since the government instituted the supply maintenance orders.

Providing an update on commercial cylinder allocation, Ms. Sharma told reporters that a total of 29 States and Union Territories combined have already started disbursing commercial cylinders. For context, the MoPNG had constituted a committee comprising Executive Directors of three oil marketing companies, Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum, to examine the cooking gas requirements of commercial entities.

Emphasising the government’s objective of easing pressure on LPG supplies, Ms. Sharma said, “However, amidst the ongoing [geopolitical] situation, in order to ease the pressure on LPG, thus, we have urged commercial users who can switch from LPG to PNG, where there is a possibility, to consider the same.”