LPG situation under control, no need for panic booking, says A.P. govt.

In view of the growing unrest among consumers with regard to shortage of LPG, the State government on Thursday clarified that the situation was under control and no dry-outs had been reported at any LPG bottling plants.

In an official statement, the government informed that the total LPG stock availability as on Thursday (March 12, 2026) was 17,962 MT, while there were 161.19 lakh LPG connections in the State. Citing field feedback that indicated some panic booking and hoarding behaviour, the statement said the normal delivery cycle for domestic LPG remained about 2.5 days and consumers had been advised not to rush-book cylinders. As a temporary demand-management measure, the minimum gap between LPG bookings had been increased from 21 days to 25 days and oil marketing companies and district enforcement teams were coordinating at the field level to clear distributor backlogs and ensure smooth deliveries.

The statement said the government was continuously monitoring the global situation and taking necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies and protect households and priority sectors.

Steps to increase production

India imports about 60% of its LPG consumption, out of which about 90% comes through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been impacted due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. On March 8, 2026, the government issued an order directing refineries and petrochemical complexes to maximise LPG production. As a result, domestic LPG production has increased by about 25% and the entire domestic LPG production is being directed towards household consumers.

For non-domestic LPG, priority is being given to essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions. A three-member committee of Executive Directors from IOCL, HPCL and BPCL had been constituted to review allocations to restaurant, hotels and other commercial users and to ensure fair and transparent distribution of available LPG supplies, said the statement.

CNG supply

It said the government issued a Natural Gas Control Order on March 9, 2026 under the Essential Commodities Act to manage gas supplies and protect priority sectors. Domestic PNG supply and CNG for vehicles will receive 100% supply with no cuts; tea industries, manufacturing units and other industrial consumers connected to the gas grid will receive about 80% of their previous six-month average supply; and fertilizer plants will receive 70% supply, while refineries and petrochemical units will take a reduction of about 35% so that higher priority sectors can be protected, said the statement.