Commercial LPG Crisis in India: The impact of increasing tension in the Middle East is now being felt in India as well. Amid the war situation related to Iran, even though the government is assuring sufficient supply of oil and gas, people’s difficulties seem to be increasing due to LPG shortage in many places.
According to the hospitality organization AHAR (Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association), about 20 percent of restaurants in the financial capital Mumbai have currently shut down due to a reduction in LPG cylinder supply.
The organization has warned that if the situation does not improve soon, this figure could rise to about 50 percent in the next two to three days. Restaurant owners say that they have been facing significant difficulties in obtaining commercial LPG cylinders for the past two days, which is affecting business.
Shortage Worsened by Iran War
The problem of LPG shortage is not limited to Mumbai alone. Similar issues have started emerging in cities like Bengaluru and Chennai. Hospitality organizations say that if gas supply does not normalize soon, the situation could become critical in these cities as well.
Hotel and restaurant operators in Bengaluru have indicated that if the supply of commercial LPG is affected, they might have to temporarily shut down their businesses, as their entire operation depends on LPG.
Government Takes Action
On the other hand, the central government is continuously monitoring the situation and taking steps to maintain oil and gas availability. The government has instructed refineries to increase LPG production to prevent any supply shortages. Currently, the government’s priority is to ensure uninterrupted availability of domestic LPG.
According to government officials, the purpose of this step is to prevent disruption to essential services like restaurants, hospitals, and the food supply chain. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has indicated that the war related to Iran may end soon. Also, G7 countries have decided to use their strategic oil reserves if needed. Following these announcements, there has been some softening in crude oil prices in the global market.
