NEW DELHI: India managed to keep cooking gas supplies stable during a major global energy disruption by moving LPG vessels through the Strait of Hormuz without paying tolls and rapidly increasing domestic production, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Monday (June 29).
Puri said India moved more than 12 LPG vessels through the critical maritime route while taking several emergency measures after the Strait of Hormuz remained closed for nearly four months, creating challenges for global energy supply chains.
“Even as the world faced one of the worst energy crises and disrupted supply chains, India under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi effectively shielded the energy consumers from any negative impact,” he said.
LPG movement protected during crisis
Highlighting the government’s response, Puri said India ensured uninterrupted energy access by diversifying crude oil imports, strengthening infrastructure and arranging alternative LPG supplies from multiple countries.
“Over 12 Indian LPG vessels were quietly moved out of Hormuz without paying any tolls,” Puri wrote in a post on social media platform X. He said the measures helped prevent shortages and ensured that households continued receiving cooking gas despite the disruption.
The minister also highlighted the reduction of Rs 10 per litre in central excise duty on fuel in March as one of the steps taken during the crisis.
“Cooking gas going to homes was protected in full and digital authentication code was made mandatory to prevent diversion of this precious supply by black marketers,” he mentioned.
Refineries reconfigured to boost output
Puri said refineries that had not previously produced cooking gas were modified within days to increase LPG output.
“Refineries that had never made cooking gas were reconfigured within a few days and production was raised from 35 TMT a day to 54 TMT a day,” Puri added.
He said India also created new LPG supply arrangements with countries including Algeria, Japan and Canada, while additional cargoes were secured from the United States to meet domestic requirements. - The Statesman/ANN
