The tensions in West Asia due to the conflict between the US and Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for meeting global oil demand, have led to a major oil and gas crisis. The impact of this energy crisis has been felt in many countries around the world, and India has not been spared. Although there has been some shortage of LPG in the country, the government's necessary measures have helped mitigate the impact of this crisis.

A recent sensational report published by Nikkei Asia claims that India, the world's third-largest LPG consumer, is facing a shortage of 400,000 barrels per day. In response to this report, the government has now issued a statement; Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum, clarified that there is no LPG shortage in the country, but rather that LPG production has increased. Steps to address the LPG crisis
Referring to a Nikkei Asia report, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum, issued a statement saying: "We are not facing any LPG shortage; on the contrary, domestic LPG production has increased. Production levels have been increased to approximately 46,000-47,000 tonnes. Cooking gas supplies are stable. In the last three days, 134 million domestic LPG cylinders have been distributed against 132 million bookings."

What does the Nikkei Asia report say?
Specifically, a Nikkei Asia report cited data from Kpler. According to this data, India's LPG imports in April were 377,620 barrels per day. This was significantly lower than the 851,870 barrels per day in February.

The report further states that India has also attempted to diversify its LPG procurement sources; it has also purchased supplies from countries like Iran, Australia, Argentina, and Chile. Together, these countries supplied 43,000 barrels of LPG per day in April, compared to zero in February. This is significantly less than the 678,000 barrels supplied daily by the four major exporting countries in the Middle East; geographical distance is also a significant factor. The report also states that supplies from Australia take an average of 20 days to reach India, while stocks from Argentina and the US can take 35–45 days to arrive. In April, India received an average of 149,000 barrels of gas per day from these sources.

Government Measures
In light of the LPG crisis, the government has taken significant steps to meet the LPG needs of domestic consumers; this has helped mitigate the impact of the shortage. First, the government ordered increased domestic LPG production and also revised the gas cylinder booking schedule. Furthermore, instead of relying solely on Middle Eastern countries, the government expanded its import sources under its "Plan B" policy; this decision has provided significant relief to consumers.

Oil companies' response to the shortage
While the government has dismissed reports of a severe shortage of LPG in the country, oil companies have clarified the situation regarding the shortage of petrol and diesel. In a post on the social media platform Twitter, HPCL clarified that reports of disruption in oil supply are misleading. HPCL assured that all necessary care is being taken to ensure smooth supply to its retail outlets and smooth operations.

PC: Navarashtra