Gas worries are over! The government has doubled the 5kg cylinder quota, allaying fears of a supply shortage

The government has doubled the daily quota of market-priced 5-kg LPG cylinders for migrant workers as part of a major effort to stabilize fuel supplies amid disruptions related to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. 

Unlike the subsidized 14.2-kg cylinders used for cooking in household kitchens, the 5-kg bottles are priced at market rates.

In Delhi, a 5-kg cylinder costs ₹549, while a 14.2-kg domestic cylinder costs ₹913. 5-kg cylinders are available over-the-counter at LPG distributorships, 

requiring only a simple identification document (no address proof is required). Regular domestic connections are granted after a thorough KYC process.

With energy supplies disrupted by the war in West Asia, the government has prioritized supplying cooking gas to households. Commercial users, meanwhile, were initially provided with only 20 percent of their needs, 

which was gradually increased to 70 percent. Migrant workers often lack regular cooking gas connections. To ease their burden, the government has now increased the availability of 5-kg cylinders.

5 kg cylinder quota doubled

At a press briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, stated that the government, through a letter dated April 6, had doubled the daily quantity of 5-kg 'Free Trade LPG' (FTL) cylinders distributed to migrant workers in each state. 

This increase was based on the average daily supply (number of such cylinders) during March 2-3. She stated that 77,000 FTL cylinders were sold in February, and sales on March 2-3 were even higher. 

She further stated that approximately 7.8 lakh 5-kg FTL cylinders have been sold since March 23. She added that more than 1.06 lakh 5-kg FTL cylinders were sold across the country on Monday.

Commercial LPG allocation 70%

The government has also increased commercial LPG allocations to approximately 70 percent of pre-crisis levels and tightened enforcement. More than 4,300 locations have been raided so far to curb hoarding and black marketing. 

He appealed to citizens not to panic buy petrol, diesel, and LPG, emphasizing that adequate stocks are available and retail outlets are operating normally.

Priority given to PNG supply

The supply of LPG and piped natural gas (PNG) has been prioritized for essential sectors such as households and hospitals, while refinery production has been increased and alternative fuels have been promoted. 

Natural gas supplies to priority sectors, including domestic PNG and transport CNG, are fully secure. 

Additional allocations have also been made for the fertilizer and industrial sectors. The government is also accelerating the expansion of city gas networks to promote PNG use.

What did the government say on crude oil?

Despite rising global crude oil prices, India has cut excise duty on petrol and diesel to provide relief to consumers, and also imposed a levy on exports to ensure domestic availability. 

He said fuel supplies remain stable and urged states to refute misinformation through regular public briefings.