Amid LPG Panic Booking, Centre Appoints Two Officers to Petroleum Ministry

The central government has appointed two senior officers to key positions in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas as concerns over cooking gas availability trigger panic bookings across several states.

According to official orders, Alok Tripathi of the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the petroleum ministry. In addition, A Amarnath of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at the Joint Secretary level.

The appointments come at a time when LPG bookings have surged significantly following fears of potential fuel supply disruptions linked to the ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

Long queues have been reported outside LPG distribution centers in several parts of the country, including Delhi-NCR, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha, as households rush to secure domestic cooking gas cylinders.

The sudden spike in demand has also impacted small businesses and restaurants in some areas, with reports suggesting that a few eateries temporarily halted operations due to difficulties in obtaining commercial LPG cylinders. Authorities have also received reports of hoarding in certain locations.

Government Assures LPG Supply Is Stable

Despite the surge in bookings, the central government has insisted that there is no shortage of LPG in the country and that the supply chain remains stable.

Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said that domestic LPG production had been increased significantly to meet the rising demand.

According to Sharma, production levels have risen by nearly 30 percent since March 5 in order to maintain uninterrupted supply across the country.

“There is no need for panic booking, and there has been no dry-out at any LPG dealer,” she said, urging consumers not to rush into booking additional cylinders unnecessarily.

Officials stated that daily LPG bookings have increased sharply to around 75.7 lakh cylinders, compared to the pre-crisis daily average of approximately 55.7 lakh bookings, indicating a strong panic-driven surge in demand.

West Asia Conflict Raises Energy Supply Concerns

The sudden spike in LPG demand has been partly fueled by concerns surrounding disruptions in Global energy supply routes amid the escalating conflict in West Asia.

Particular concern has centered around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime passage located between Iran and Oman. The narrow waterway is considered one of the world’s most important energy corridors, carrying a substantial portion of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Recent tensions and disruptions in the region have raised fears that supply routes could be affected, prompting consumers in India to begin stocking up on LPG cylinders as a precaution.

Opposition Protests in Parliament

Meanwhile, opposition parties raised the issue of the alleged LPG shortage during protests within the Parliament complex.

Members of the Trinamool congress, along with MPs from the Indian National Congress and other parties belonging to the INDIA bloc, staged demonstrations demanding clarity from the government regarding LPG availability.

Opposition leaders questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri over the situation and urged the government to provide a clear assurance about the supply of cooking gas.

Responding to the concerns, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri reiterated that there was no shortage of petroleum products in the country.

“There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation turbine fuel or fuel oil. Availability is fully assured,” Puri said while addressing the issue.

The minister also noted that although more than 45 percent of India’s petroleum imports previously passed through the Strait of Hormuz, the government has diversified its crude sourcing in recent years to strengthen energy security.

According to Puri, alternative procurement arrangements and diplomatic engagement with multiple oil-producing countries have helped India maintain adequate energy supplies despite global uncertainties.