Centre pushes PNG adoption amid West Asia tensions, seeks states’ support
Amid ongoing tensions in West Asia and rising concerns over energy supplies, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has outlined a series of measures to accelerate the adoption of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and expand city gas infrastructure across the country.
Addressing an inter-ministerial press briefing on Tuesday, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the ministry, said that while crude oil and fuel supplies remain adequate, LPG availability continues to be an area of concern.
“Petrol and diesel are available in sufficient quantities. As far as natural gas is concerned, the Government of India is making efforts, and it would be beneficial if commercial LPG consumers shift to PNG,” she said.
She added that there have been no reports of dry-outs at LPG distributorships or fuel retail outlets, with oil marketing companies maintaining steady supplies. Citizens have been urged to avoid panic buying, as adequate stocks of petrol and diesel are available nationwide.
Crackdown on hoarding and black marketing
State governments have intensified enforcement measures to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG, petrol and diesel. Authorities have conducted nearly 12,000 raids in recent days, leading to the seizure of around 15,000 LPG cylinders.
Significant enforcement actions have been reported from several states, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh, with inspections, seizures and arrests carried out to check illegal activities. Oil marketing companies have also conducted surprise inspections at about 2,500 retail outlets and LPG distributorships.
Alternative fuels and supply management
To ease pressure on LPG supplies, the government has activated alternative fuels such as kerosene and coal for select sectors, including hospitality and restaurants.
At the same briefing, Rajesh Kumar Sinha from the Ministry of Shipping said that all Indian sailors and vessels in the Gulf region are safe. He noted that 161 Indian sailors were repatriated in the past 24 hours in coordination with Indian missions abroad.
He also confirmed that LPG carriers, including the vessels Nanda Devi and Shivalik, have reached port and are currently discharging cargo, helping stabilise supply.
Dismissing media reports about container congestion at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority as “baseless,” Sinha clarified that containers are being handled as per established procedures at container freight stations and warehouses.
Push for PNG adoption
As part of its strategy, the Centre is encouraging commercial LPG users, particularly in urban areas, to switch to PNG.
City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies have been advised to proactively reach out to consumers through emails, customer portals, letters and call centres to facilitate new connections. Several CGD entities are also offering incentives to accelerate adoption.
The Centre has further urged states and Union Territories to expedite approvals and remove procedural bottlenecks for laying CGD pipelines, aiming to expand PNG infrastructure and reduce dependence on LPG amid global uncertainties.
(ANI)
