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LPG supply is a 'matter of concern', but no distributor has reported dry outs, says Centre

Scroll | March 13, 2026 9:40 PM CST

The Union government on Friday acknowledged that the supply of liquefied petroleum gas in the country was a “matter of concern“, but added that no distributor had run out of stocks.

“LPG is a matter of concern for us as most of our imports travel through the Strait of Hormuz,” Sujata Sharma, joint secretary (marketing and oil refinery) in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said at a press conference. “But despite this, no dry out has been reported at any of our 25,000 distributors.”

The official urged citizens not to believe in rumours and to refrain from panic buying. However, she urged consumers who can shift from LPG to piped natural gas to do so immediately.

Sharma said that there are currently seven lakh families who can make the shift.

Since the conflict in West Asia began on February 28, Iran has effectively blocked the strategic Strait of Hormuz for most international commercial vessels. About 20% of global petroleum supply passes through the maritime chokepoint.

This has affected LPG supplies in India. The country imports about 60% of its LPG demand, most of it from Gulf countries.

The disruption has led to several eateries being temporarily shut, and long queues outside LPG godowns and agencies.

On Friday, even as Sharma acknowledged concern on LPG availability, she maintained that the government has ensured...