To ensure that the country’s cooking gas consumers do not face any inconvenience, the government has taken an important step. The government has immediately banned LPG cylinder refilling for households that already have a PNG connection. Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the resulting crisis, India is aiming to secure its cooking gas supply. Keeping this objective in mind, the government has taken this tough decision. According to a notification issued by the government, consumers who have started using PNG will have to give up their LPG connections within 30 days – or receive a transfer voucher for future use.
This new order from the government follows a directive issued in March, in which PNG consumers were directed to give up their LPG connections within three months. In fact, the ongoing tensions in West Asia and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have adversely affected energy imports from the region. As a result, there is continued pressure on LPG supply in the country. Now, further tightening the rules, the government has made it clear that once the PNG connection is established, the customer will not be allowed to book an LPG cylinder.
Government rules to provide relief to certain groups
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has kept in mind the convenience of the common man while making these new rules. According to the ministry, customers who have migrated to PNG can opt for transfer vouchers. If they relocate in the future to an area where PNG facilities are not available, they will be able to reactivate their original LPG connection using this voucher. This initiative of the government will provide relief to those employees who are frequently transferred. This arrangement will also prove beneficial for tenants, students and migrant population.
Annual LPG consumption 33 million tonnes
About 33 million tonnes of LPG is consumed annually in the country. India imports 90 percent of its domestic cooking gas requirements from West Asian countries; As a result, the ongoing conflict in that region has raised concerns within the country. However, to control the situation, the government has started importing fuel from other global markets like the United States, Canada and Norway. The ministry has said that despite the current geopolitical circumstances, consumers at the domestic level will not face any shortage of LPG. In the last four days, around 17.2 million LPG cylinders have been delivered across the country, while 16.6 million cylinders have been booked.