The Central government on Friday acknowledged rising pressure on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplies amid tensions in West Asia but assured that fuel availability across the country remains stable. Authorities said domestic consumers will continue receiving uninterrupted supplies of piped natural gas (PNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG).

Addressing a press briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery) at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said the government is closely monitoring the situation and has taken several measures to prevent supply disruptions.

She said the government has increased LPG production significantly and is prioritising essential services such as hospitals and hostels for cylinder deliveries.

LPG Production Increased by 40 Percent

According to Sharma, domestic LPG production has been increased by about 40 percent compared to March 5, 2026, to ensure adequate supply across the country.

To support states, the government has also released an additional 48,000 kilolitres of kerosene for distribution, helping reduce dependence on LPG in certain regions.

Authorities have also asked Coal India Limited to supply coal to hotels and restaurants so that commercial establishments can manage fuel needs without relying solely on LPG cylinders.

Panic Buying Pushes LPG Bookings to 75.7 Lakh

Officials revealed that LPG bookings surged sharply due to panic buying after tensions escalated in West Asia.

Sharma said bookings reached 75.7 lakh on March 12, 2026, compared to the normal daily average of about 55.7 lakh during the pre-war period.

The government has urged citizens not to believe rumours about fuel shortages and to avoid panic booking cylinders.

Government Encourages Shift to PNG Connections

To reduce pressure on LPG supplies, the government has encouraged consumers—especially commercial establishments—to shift to piped natural gas connections where available.

Commercial consumers facing difficulties due to reliance on LPG have been advised to contact their local City Gas Distribution network providers for PNG connections.

Officials said restaurants, hotels and other businesses in major urban areas should consider switching to PNG as a more stable and continuous fuel source.

Petrol and Diesel Stocks Adequate

The government also reassured citizens that petrol and diesel supplies remain fully stable across the country.

Sharma noted that India has a refining capacity of about 258 million metric tons and is self-sufficient in the production of petrol and diesel, meaning there is no need to import these fuels.

Fuel is currently available at petrol pumps nationwide and refineries are operating normally.

No LPG Distributor Has Reported Dry-Out

Despite the spike in bookings, the government said no LPG distributor has reported running out of supplies.

Sharma confirmed that the country’s network of around 25,000 LPG distributors continues to operate normally.

“Petrol and diesel are available in adequate quantities at all petrol pumps… Regarding LPG, I would like to state that this remains a matter of concern for us. Nevertheless, despite this situation, no dry out has been reported at any of our 25,000 distributors,” she said.

She again appealed to citizens to avoid panic buying and not to spread or believe rumours regarding fuel shortages.