Industry will step up to support prices, availability, jobs amid energy disruption: CII's Mukundan

Industry will maintain price stability, availability and employment security amid the energy disruption linked to West Asia tensions, CII President-Designate R Mukundan told CNBC-TV18, outlining a voluntary industry response.

“The supply shock may last for eight to nine weeks, but the impact will be felt for 18 to 24 months,” Mukundan noted.

On the ground, the energy crunch has been most visible in LPG supplies, though the situation has improved in recent days. “The government has moved steadily over the last 11 days from 20% allocation to industry to almost 80% today,” he said, adding that most of the immediate supply concerns have been addressed, with only limited pockets facing shortages.

Mukundan said industry has worked closely with the government to manage both supply and demand, including efforts to redirect fuel to priority sectors and accelerate shifts towards alternatives such as piped natural gas. “They have been able to solve about 60% of the demand. The rest has been managed by ensuring that demand is directed to the right sectors,” he explained.

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As part of a broader response, industry has drawn up an eight-point programme alongside a 20-point framework for the government, aimed at tackling not just the current disruption but also its wider economic implications. These include measures to address inflationary pressures, protect jobs and ensure business continuity.