Govt Raises Gas Supply To Fertiliser Plants From 90% To 95% Amid West Asia Crisis
India has increased gas supply to fertiliser manufacturing units to 95 percent of their requirements to protect domestic needs, reports ETV Bharat's Surabhi Gupta.
Published : April 8, 2026 at 3:58 PM IST
New Delhi: India’s fuel supply situation remains stable despite weeks of geopolitical tensions in West Asia, with the government assuring that domestic LPG distribution and petroleum supplies are under control. The reassurance came hours after a conditional two-week ceasefire was agreed upon between Iran and the United States, a development expected to ease pressure on global energy flows through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Addressing an Inter-Ministerial Briefing on Recent Developments in West Asia, Sujata Sharma, joint secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said the government has taken multiple steps to ensure that the ongoing conflict and shipping disruptions in the region do not affect India’s domestic energy requirements.
She noted that natural gas supplies to fertiliser plants have been restored to nearly 95 per cent of their total requirement after oil companies procured additional liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the spot market. The move is part of a broader strategy to cushion India’s energy sector from the impact of the 40-day disruption that affected key energy infrastructure and shipping routes in the region.
“While the conflict has impacted major energy infrastructure, the government is making every possible effort to ensure that domestic fuel supplies remain uninterrupted,” Sharma said during the briefing.
The government also dismissed concerns about a possible shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), stressing that supply chains across the country are functioning normally. Sharma clarified that no “dry-out” situation—where petrol pumps run out of fuel—has been reported anywhere in the country.
To meet the sustained demand for commercial cooking fuel, approximately 6,500 tonnes of commercial LPG were sold across India on the previous day alone. Officials said this demonstrates that distribution systems remain robust despite the global uncertainties triggered by tensions in West Asia.
Petrol pumps across the country are also operating normally, the ministry said, while highlighting efforts to ensure consumers are aware of alternative LPG options. Oil marketing companies have organised around 1,300 awareness camps across different states to inform consumers about the availability of smaller 5-kg LPG cylinders, which are often used by households and small businesses.
During these awareness drives, oil companies sold more than 10,000 cylinders, indicating strong consumer response. According to the ministry, the wider distribution of these smaller cylinders has played a crucial role in stabilising local supply and meeting immediate demand.
Data released by the ministry also showed a steady rise in the sale of 5-kg Free Trade LPG cylinders in recent weeks. Since March 23, 2026, approximately 6.75 lakh such cylinders have been sold nationwide. On one day alone, more than 1.1 lakh cylinders were sold, while the cumulative number of sales since March 23 has reached nearly 8.9 lakh.
Officials said these figures underline the government’s strategy of diversifying LPG distribution channels to ensure accessibility during periods of global supply uncertainty.
At the same time, Sharma emphasised that domestic natural gas consumers continue to be prioritised. Industrial gas supplies, which had earlier been curtailed due to disruptions, have now been partially restored. Fertiliser plants in particular are receiving nearly their full allocation again, helping stabilise production in a sector vital for India’s agricultural output.
The ministry also highlighted policy initiatives aimed at strengthening long-term energy resilience. A draft state City Gas Distribution (CGD) policy has been introduced, under which states adopting the policy will receive priority in additional commercial LPG allocations.
The Centre has also urged states and Union Territories to simplify procedures for piped natural gas (PNG) connections. According to officials, around 18 states have already implemented reforms under the initiative and have been granted additional LPG allocations as an incentive.
The push for PNG adoption appears to be gaining traction. Since March 2026, about 3.87 lakh PNG connections have been issued, while 4.21 lakh new consumers have registered for the service. Authorities have also advised consumers who hold both LPG and PNG connections to voluntarily surrender their LPG connections, a move aimed at freeing up LPG supplies for households that rely solely on cylinder-based fuel.
Meanwhile, the government also welcomed the diplomatic breakthrough that could stabilise shipping in the Gulf region. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said India is closely monitoring developments in West Asia.
“India welcomes the ceasefire and is closely tracking the evolving situation in the region,” Jaiswal said. “We expect the unimpeded global flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz.”
The waterway is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, through which a significant portion of global oil and LNG shipments pass. Any disruption in the region can have immediate ripple effects on global energy markets and import-dependent economies like India.
For now, officials say India’s fuel supply situation remains stable, with contingency measures and diversified sourcing helping shield the country from the worst impacts of the geopolitical tensions. As diplomatic efforts continue and the ceasefire holds, authorities remain cautiously optimistic that global energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz will gradually return to normal.
A fresh advisory was issued by the MEA urging Indian nationals in Iran to leave the country "expeditiously". "Indian nationals in Iran are advised to expeditiously exit Iran in coordination with the Embassy and by using the routes suggested by the Embassy. This advisory is particularly aimed at 7500 Indians, who are currently in Iran, so they can take advantage of present situation," Jaisal said.
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