The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has directed households with both Piped Natural Gas, PNG, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, connections to surrender their LPG connection with immediate effect. In a notification issued yesterday, the Ministry said that any person having a PNG connection will not be allowed to retain a domestic LPG connection or take refills of LPG cylinders from government oil companies or their authorised distributors. Such consumers are also required to surrender their LPG connection immediately. The order further states that individuals who already have a PNG connection will also not be permitted to obtain a new LPG connection in the future.

Oil marketing companies have also been instructed not to issue new LPG connections or provide refills to consumers who already have access to piped natural gas. The government said that the step has been taken to prevent duplication of cooking gas supply and to ensure that LPG cylinders remain available for households that do not have access to PNG networks. The notification comes amid disruptions in global fuel supply due to the ongoing crisis in West Asia.

Meanwhile, following diplomatic efforts by India, Iran has allowed two Indian-flagged LPG carriers to transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Two LPG carriers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, carrying LPG from Gulf countries, safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz yesterday. The vessels were among twenty-four ships that had been stranded on the western side of the strait after the conflict began in the region. Special Secretary in the Ministry of Shipping, Rajesh Kumar Sinha said the vessels are now headed to Mundra and Kandla ports in Gujarat. The ships are carrying about ninety-two thousand seven hundred tonnes of LPG and are expected to dock at Indian ports on the 16th or 17th of March.

Mr Sinha said diplomatic efforts are underway to ensure safe passage for the remaining 22 Indian-flagged ships on the western side of the strait.

Meanwhile, in the interministerial media briefing yesterday, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Sujata Sharma urged the citizens to refrain from panic booking of LPG Cylinders and only book when required. She informed that commercial cylinders have been kept at the disposal for state governments, and the distribution of commercial cylinders in 29 states and UTs has begun.