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India's imports of LPG and LNG from the US have surged to record levels, accounting for over 73% of total imports. Despite this, a ban on new LPG connections remains in effect within the country.

India began sourcing LPG and LNG from the US due to the conflict between the US and Iran, escalating tensions in the Middle East, and disruptions to gas supplies in the Strait of Hormuz.

In July, India imported a record 8.9 lakh tonnes of LPG from the US, followed by 6.2 lakh tonnes in August. This indicates a steady supply of LPG in the country, even though imports from Gulf nations (UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia) have declined. Given that there is no shortage in supply, the question arises: why does the ban on booking new connections persist?

When will new connections be available?

Oil companies have imposed a temporary ban on issuing new domestic LPG connections since March 2026. Responding to this, the Union Ministry of Petroleum stated on social media, "In light of current geopolitical tensions, the issuance of new connections is currently suspended. Distributors are prioritizing refill supplies for existing consumers to ensure essential services remain uninterrupted."

The government described this as a temporary measure and stated that conditions would normalize once the situation improves. According to sources within oil companies, the government is currently focusing entirely on the mandatory e-KYC verification process across the country and the removal of duplicate or fake connections from the system. The portal for new connections will be reopened only after this process is complete, which could take a few more months.

LPG Prices Today

Today, Thursday, August 27, Indian oil companies (IOCL, BPCL, HPCL) have made no changes to the prices of domestic LPG cylinders. However, earlier this month (on August 1), there was a significant reduction of approximately ₹194 to ₹200 in the price of 19 kg commercial LPG cylinders, providing major relief to restaurant and hotel owners.

Check city-wise prices.