New Delhi, March 10, KNT: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has directed oil refineries to increase production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and prioritise domestic supply in view of current geopolitical disruptions affecting fuel availability, officials said.
In a statement, the ministry said refineries have been instructed to boost LPG output and channel the additional production primarily towards domestic consumption.
Authorities said the decision was taken to ensure uninterrupted supply of cooking gas to households amid constraints in the global fuel supply chain.
The ministry has also introduced a 25-day inter-booking period for LPG refills in an effort to prevent hoarding and black marketing of cylinders.
Officials said the move aims to regulate demand and ensure equitable distribution of domestic LPG among consumers.
According to the ministry, imported LPG supplies will be prioritised for essential non-domestic sectors including hospitals and educational institutions.
For other non-domestic sectors such as restaurants, hotels and industries, the government has constituted a committee comprising three executive directors from oil marketing companies to examine requests and review LPG supply requirements.
Officials said the committee will assess representations from various sectors before allocating LPG supplies to ensure essential services remain unaffected.
The ministry said the measures are part of efforts to maintain stability in the LPG supply chain and safeguard household energy needs during a period of global supply uncertainties. [KNT]
