Domestic LPG Output Up 28 Per Cent As Government Prioritises Supply To 33 Crore Households Amid Hormuz Crisis: Puri

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri assured Parliament on Thursday (12 March() that India faces no shortage of petrol, diesel, or cooking gas despite the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, describing the situation as unprecedented in modern energy history.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Puri firmly assured the House and the nation that India faces no shortage of petroleum products despite severe global disruptions caused by the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, noting that commercial shipping through the strait has been severely hampered for the first time on record.

Before the crisis, approximately 45 per cent of India's crude imports transited through the Strait of Hormuz route, but India has now increased non-Hormuz sourcing to approximately 70 per cent of all crude imports, up from 55 per cent before the conflict began.

The minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's diplomatic efforts, stating that India has secured crude volumes that exceed what the disrupted Strait of Hormuz could have delivered in the same period.

India now sources its energy products from 40 countries, as against 27 in 2006 and 2007.

Addressing concerns about cooking gas availability, Puri stressed that the government's priority is ensuring that the kitchens of 33 crore families do not face any fuel shortage.

Domestic LPG production has risen by 28 per cent, CNG supplies continue at 100 per cent, and fresh LNG cargoes arrive daily.

He attributed any localised tightness—particularly for commercial users like restaurants and hotels—to panic buying and hoarding, which has artificially spiked demand.

The minister's statement came as a senior official in the IRGC officially confirmed on 2 March 2026 that the strait was closed, subsequently threatening any ship that passed through it.

The Strait of Hormuz - the critical chokepoint through which about 20 per cent of global oil normally flows - has been severely hampered.

Puri's remarks responded to earlier opposition criticisms, including from Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who had warned of broader energy security risks.

Fuel retail outlets across the country are stocked, and supply chains for these products are functioning normally, the minister assured.

Liquefied Natural Gas cargoes are arriving on an almost daily basis through alternative routes, and India has sufficient gas production and supply arrangements to sustain this position even in the event of a prolonged conflict.

The minister urged consumers to avoid unnecessary stockpiling, emphasising that supplies remain adequate and the government is fully prepared to handle the crisis.

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