India's kitchens safe amid energy shock, assures Hardeep Puri

New Delhi: With India navigating the "most severe global energy disruption" in recorded history, Union petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday informed the Lok Sabha that the Modi government's foremost priority is ensuring the kitchens of Indian families face no shortage of cooking fuel, with LPG supplies fully protected and consumer prices shielded from global volatility.

"Crude supply is flowing and LPG production has been stepped up," Puri said, urging citizens to ignore "rumour-mongering and fake narratives" and stand "united behind the national interest across political affiliations."

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Puri, however, said commercial LPG has been temporarily regulated to prevent hoarding and black marketing, clarifying that the restrictions are not aimed at penalising the hospitality sector but at preventing diversion in a supply-constrained environment. As commercial cylinders are normally sold in a fully deregulated market without subsidy or booking controls, the government has introduced calibrated allocations to ensure genuine users get supplies. A committee of oil marketing companies has been tasked with assessing demand across sectors and regions.

Making a statement in the House, Puri said India's energy system continues to function normally despite the global shock. State governments have been brought into the coordination framework, with district-level monitoring committees, anti-diversion raids and enforcement action already underway, which he described as an example of cooperative federalism responding to a national challenge.

Drawing a contrast with other countries, he said a neighbour has shut schools for two weeks, shifted government offices to a four-day work week, cut fuel allowances for official vehicles and taken 60% of government vehicles off the road, while petrol prices there surged by about 20% in a week.

With cooking fuel emerging as the government's top priority, refineries have been directed to maximise LPG output, raising production by 28% in the past five days. "Imports have also been diversified, with additional cargoes sourced from the United States, Norway, Canada, Algeria and Russia."

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Puri said India's crude supply remains secure due to diversification and diplomatic outreach. Before the crisis, around 45% of India's crude imports transited the Hormuz route. Proactive sourcing has now increased non-Hormuz supplies to nearly 70%, up from about 55% earlier. India today sources crude from 40 countries, compared with 27 in 2006-07, strengthening energy resilience.

Puri said the government has implemented prioritised allocation under the Natural Gas Control Order to protect essential sectors. Domestic piped gas to households and CNG for vehicles are receiving 100% supply.