Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas says no need for panic LPG booking, assures adequate fuel supply

The central government has urged citizens not to panic over the supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and assured that there is no immediate crisis in the country. Officials said that while the situation is being closely monitored due to ongoing tensions in West Asia, fuel supplies across the country remain stable.

During a press briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said the government is taking several steps to ensure that essential fuel supplies continue without disruption.

She explained that the government has already taken measures to increase domestic production of LPG. According to officials, LPG production in India has been increased by about 40 percent compared to the levels recorded on March 5, 2026.

Authorities said the increase in production is part of efforts to make sure that households and essential services continue receiving fuel without shortages.

Officials also said that priority is currently being given to important institutions such as hospitals and hostels. These facilities rely heavily on LPG for daily operations, and ensuring their supply remains a key focus for the government.

In addition to LPG management, the government has also released large quantities of kerosene oil to help support energy needs in different parts of the country. Around 48,000 kilolitres of kerosene, which equals nearly 48 million litres, have been made available for distribution to states.

The government has also taken steps to assist commercial establishments such as hotels and restaurants. Officials said that Coal India Limited has been directed to supply coal to these businesses so they can continue operating even if LPG supplies become tight in some areas.

Another major concern highlighted by the government is the sharp rise in LPG cylinder bookings across the country. Officials said that the increase in bookings appears to be driven by panic buying among consumers who fear that supplies may run short.

Government data shows that LPG bookings rose significantly on March 12. On that day, bookings reached around 75.7 lakh cylinders, compared with the normal daily average of about 55.7 lakh cylinders before the recent tensions began.

Officials said such sudden increases in demand can put pressure on the distribution system even when supplies are available. For this reason, the government has appealed to citizens not to make unnecessary bookings.

Authorities stressed that panic buying can create artificial shortages and disrupt normal supply patterns.

Push for alternative gas connections

Along with asking people to avoid panic buying, the government has encouraged consumers to switch to alternative gas connections wherever possible.

Officials said households and businesses located in cities should consider using piped natural gas (PNG), which is delivered directly to homes and commercial establishments through pipelines.

This type of supply reduces dependence on LPG cylinders and helps ease pressure on the distribution network.

The government has urged commercial users, especially restaurants and hotels, to contact their local City Gas Distribution providers and apply for PNG connections if available in their area.

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Officials said switching to PNG can provide a more stable supply for businesses that rely heavily on cooking fuel every day.

The government also reassured the public that other fuel supplies in the country remain stable. According to officials, India currently has a refining capacity of about 258 million metric tonnes of crude oil.

Because of this large refining capacity, the country is largely self-sufficient in the production of petrol and diesel. Officials said this means India does not need to import petrol or diesel to meet domestic demand.

Authorities also confirmed that petrol pumps across the country continue to have adequate stocks of both petrol and diesel.

Another important update from the government is that no LPG distributor has reported a complete stock shortage so far. Officials said there are more than 25,000 LPG distributors across India, and none of them have reported “dry-out” situations.

This means that although demand has increased, LPG cylinders are still available through normal distribution channels.

The government has therefore appealed to citizens to remain calm and avoid spreading or believing rumours about fuel shortages.

Officials warned that misinformation and panic buying can create unnecessary pressure on supply chains and make the situation appear worse than it actually is.

They emphasised that the government is continuously monitoring developments and coordinating with energy companies to ensure that fuel supplies remain stable across the country.

For now, authorities say there is no immediate fuel crisis, and LPG distribution is continuing as usual. Citizens have been advised to book cylinders only when required and to rely on official information rather than rumours circulating on social media.