No Need For Panic Booking As LPG Demand Jumps To 75.7 Lakh From 55.7 Lakh Average: Oil Ministry

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Friday, 13 March, said there is no shortage of LPG in the country and no distributor has reported a dry-out situation, even as panic buying has sharply increased bookings. Officials said LPG bookings have jumped to 75.7 lakh, significantly above the pre-war average of 55.7 lakh, indicating a surge driven by fear rather than actual supply disruption.

Addressing the media, the government urged citizens not to rush for additional bookings and assured that supplies of LPG, PNG and CNG are being maintained without interruption across the country.

Oil Ministry says panic booking behind sudden spike in LPG demand

Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery), Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, said the sudden jump in LPG bookings reflects panic buying rather than any real shortage in supply.

"The Oil Ministry on 13 March informed that LPG bookings have surged to 75.7 lakh against an average of 55.7 lakh in the pre-war period, showing panic booking. 'There is no need for panic booking; no dry out at any LPG dealer,' Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery), Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas stated at a media briefing today."

She also reassured consumers that city gas services remain stable and uninterrupted despite concerns triggered by recent developments in West Asia.

"The supply of PNG (Piped Natural Gas) to domestic consumers and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) is being ensured without any interruptions or cuts. Given this situation, there is absolutely no need for panic," she added.

Government assures uninterrupted supply to homes, hospitals and institutions

The Centre said uninterrupted fuel availability has been ensured not just for households, but also for essential institutions such as hospitals and educational establishments. Officials also highlighted that domestic LPG production has been stepped up to meet the sudden rise in demand.

Sujata Sharma said, "Uninterrupted supply to domestic households has been ensured. Similarly, LPG supplies are also being provided to hospitals and educational institutions. Domestic production of LPG has increased by 30% as of today; compared to March 5th, our refineries are currently producing 30% more LPG. Regarding commercial cylinders, these have been placed at the disposal of the State Governments to facilitate priority distribution. We are requesting the State Governments to determine the priority criteria and ensure that these commercial cylinders effectively reach the intended consumers."

The ministry added that commercial cylinders have been made available to state governments so they can prioritise distribution based on local needs, especially in areas where supply pressure is higher.

Commercial consumers in cities asked to shift to PNG where possible

The government acknowledged that many commercial users in major urban centres are facing difficulties because of their dependence on LPG supplies. To ease the pressure, the ministry has asked such consumers to approach local gas distribution networks for PNG connections wherever feasible.

On the issue, Sharma said the government is "making every effort to address their concerns".

"We appeal to all such commercial consumers to contact their local CGD (City Gas Distribution) network provider or their designated dealer to obtain a PNG connection," Sharma added.

This move is expected to reduce pressure on LPG supplies and help ensure that cylinders remain available for households and critical services.

India self-sufficient in petrol and diesel, refineries running at full capacity

The Oil Ministry also underlined that India remains self-sufficient in petrol and diesel production, with no requirement to import these fuels. Officials said the country's refining system is fully operational and crude inventories remain adequate.

"As far as crude oil is concerned, we possess a refining capacity of 258 million metric tons. We are self-sufficient in the production of petrol and diesel; consequently, there is no need to import these fuels into India. All our refineries are currently operating at 100% capacity or higher," she stated.

According to the ministry, refineries currently hold sufficient crude oil stocks and fuel production is continuing normally, ensuring there is no disruption in retail fuel availability.

Sharma further stressed that petrol and diesel remain available in sufficient quantities at pumps across the country, while LPG continues to be closely monitored due to the spike in demand.

"Petrol and diesel are available in adequate quantities at all petrol pumps... Regarding LPG, I would like to state that this remains a matter of concern for us. Nevertheless, despite this situation, no dry out has been reported at any of our 25,000 distributors. I would like to appeal to all fellow citizens not to give credence to rumors and to refrain from engaging in panic buying."

With the government reiterating that supplies are stable and inventories are sufficient, the message from the ministry remains clear: there is no LPG shortage, and consumers should avoid panic-driven bookings based on rumours.