New Delhi: India is using a recent cooking gas shortage to speed up a major shift toward piped natural gas in homes, as supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East continue to affect imports.
The country depends heavily on liquefied petroleum gas for cooking, with more than 300 million households using LPG cylinders. Nearly 60 percent of this demand is met through imports, making India vulnerable to global supply shocks. The current crisis has been worsened by disruptions in shipping routes near the Strait of Hormuz, a key pathway for energy supplies.
In response, the government has taken emergency steps to control distribution and ensure that household needs are met first. Commercial users have faced tighter supply, while authorities are encouraging people to move to piped gas systems where available.
Officials have also introduced new rules that may restrict LPG access for households that already have piped gas connections after a transition period. At the same time, approvals for gas pipeline projects have been fast tracked to expand coverage across cities.
The push appears to be gaining momentum. Hundreds of thousands of new piped gas connections were added in March alone, and more households are giving up LPG cylinders after switching to the new system. The government aims to reach up to 40 million homes with piped gas by 2030.
To manage the immediate shortage, India has sourced additional LPG supplies from countries such as the United States, Russia and Australia. Domestic production has also been increased, and the country has built up fuel reserves to handle short term disruptions.
The crisis has also affected industries that depend on LPG, although supplies are now slowly improving. Some policy changes, including tax relief measures, have been introduced to support businesses during this period.
Experts say the shift toward piped gas could reduce India’s dependence on imports and lower the burden of subsidies over time. However, challenges remain, especially in expanding pipeline infrastructure to rural and remote areas.
The current situation is seen as a turning point in India’s energy policy, with the government trying to turn a supply crisis into an opportunity for long term change.