Govt takes decision for no new gas connections
New Delhi: Amidst the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, the country continues to face an LPG crisis. In light of this shortage, the issuance of new connections for domestic cooking gas-LPG-has been suspended nationwide.
For over a month now, state-run oil companies across the country have ceased issuing new connections. The primary reason for this moratorium on new connections is the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the resulting disruption to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Consequently, LPG supplies across the country have been severely impacted.
The disruption in LPG supplies has heightened anxiety among the general public. India is the world's second-largest importer of LPG. The country requires approximately 33 million tonnes of LPG annually, 65 percent of which is met through imports. Of these imports, 90 percent originate from West Asia.
The Strait of Hormuz serves as the conduit for one-fifth of the world's total LPG requirements. Due to the conflict involving Iran, tanker movements have been affected, rendering LPG shipments to nations like India uncertain.
Priority Given to Existing Customers
As a result, oil companies have prioritized existing customers and have temporarily halted the issuance of new connections. Sujata Sharma, a senior official at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, also confirmed this development. She stated that, for the time being, new connections are not being issued. No specific timeline has been provided regarding when the issuance of new connections will resume.
Why Have New Connections Been Suspended?
LPG distributors and sources have indicated that oil companies have prioritized ensuring an uninterrupted supply of LPG to existing domestic customers. Consequently, new applications are currently not being accepted through the online system. Although no formal government order has been issued regarding this, dealers have been informally instructed to refrain from issuing new connections for the time being.
Focus on Providing Refills to Existing Customers
Responding to a customer complaint on social media, Bharat Petroleum's LPG brand, BharatGas, stated: "The issuance of new LPG connections has been temporarily suspended amidst geopolitical tensions. Distributors are currently focusing solely on providing refills to existing customers to ensure their supply remains uninterrupted and hassle-free." The Ministry of Petroleum has clarified that supplying domestic households remains its top priority. Furthermore, no complaints regarding stock depletion have been received from any distributor.
25-Day Gap Mandatory in Urban Areas
Following the outbreak of the conflict, the government has increased the mandatory interval between bookings in an effort to manage demand. A gap of 25 days is now required between bookings in urban areas, while a gap of 45 days is mandatory in rural areas. Additionally, the government is focusing on transitioning households to Piped Natural Gas (PNG). Since the beginning of March, over 800,000 new PNG connections have been issued. A significant number of these households have subsequently surrendered their LPG connections. In certain locations, the sale of cylinders on secondary connections within the same household has also been discontinued.
