New Delhi: The war between Iran and the US-Israel has affected the shipping routes after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which is being felt throughout
the world. In India, there is chaos regarding LPG cylinders for daily use in some areas. Meanwhile, reports are also emerging that the booking period of LPG cylinders has been changed once again.
For the rural areas, the refill gap has been increased to 45 days from 25 days, while for the urban areas, the refill gap is retained as 25 days on an industry basis. After such reports, people are rushing to refill their cylinders.
New refill timelines
Two days earlier, the central government increased the refill period from 21 days to 25 days to prevent any sort of hoarding and black marketing. The decision was made by the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas because domestic customers were booking LPG cylinders within 15 days. The ministry discovered that those who previously booked cylinders in 55 days have started booking cylinders within 15 days.
There is no shortage: Hardeep Singh Puri
While addressing the matter in the Lok Sabha, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the world has not faced a moment like this in modern energy history. He assured India’s crude supply position is secure and also the volume secured exceeds what the Hormuz would have delivered.
He added that before the crisis, approximately 45% of India’s crude imports transited through the Strait of Hormuz route. India has secured crude volumes that exceed what the disrupted Strait of Hormuz could have delivered in the same period.
“In several cases, they are exceeding 100%. There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene, ATF or fuel oil. The availability of petrol, diesel, aviation, turbine fuel, kerosene and fuel oil is fully assured,” said oil minister.
India taps Non-Hormuz sources to secure crude supply
The Oil Minister clarified that the ministry has raised the crude imports from non-Hormuz sources to approximately 70% from 55% before the conflict began. India now sources from 40 countries, up from 27 in 2006-07.
Puri added that this structural diversification built through sustained policy over successive years has given New Delhi the options that other nations don’t have. The refineries are operating at high capacity utilisation. He assured that the retail outlets across the country are stocked, and supply chains for these products are functioning normally.
