🔗 Share this article ‘The Situation is Dire’: Hostilities on Iran Tightens India's LPG Supplies. People wait in lines to buy LPG tanks for home cooking in a major Indian city. The shockwaves of a military engagement being fought nearly 3,000km away are now reaching India's households. As US-Israeli strikes on Iran hinder energy deliveries through the key maritime chokepoint, availability of kitchen fuel are dwindling across India, compelling restaurants to shorten food lists, reduce operating times and in some cases close completely. Social media is flooded by video clips showing crowds outside fuel suppliers across Indian metros and localities as concerns over fuel supplies spread. Restaurant kitchens appear the most affected: the most severe shortage is in commercial eateries. "The state of affairs is alarming. LPG simply isn't available," says a representative of the an industry group. Most eateries run either on business-grade gas tanks or piped gas, and the lack of supply are now being experienced across the country. "Numerous restaurants have ceased operations - some in northern India, many in the southern region. People are turning to coal and wood and electronic appliances to keep kitchens going." Localized Effects In a western metro, local news say up to a fifth of hospitality businesses are already operating at reduced capacity as business fuel stocks tighten. In the southern cities of tech and coastal hubs, some eateries say their cylinder inventory have dwindled with little backup. "We can only make coffee and no other dishes - it is nothing less than pathetic. Commerce will take a hit," says a restaurant owner in Bengaluru. A eatery in Chennai which has closed its doors due to a scarcity of kitchen fuel. Restaurant managers are seeking alternatives. "Offering lists are shrinking, some are opening only for dinner and operating solely in the evening," an industry representative says, adding that closures are changing as supplies wax and wane. "A number of eateries in Delhi were shut yesterday - a couple are back in business. It's a changing landscape." Retailers observe a increase in sales of electronic cooking appliances, with some saying they are running out of them. Official Position Yet, the authorities insists there is no shortage. India has more than 30 crore domestic LPG users and authorities say stocks are being prioritized to households as conflict-related stress from the war in the Gulf ripple through energy markets. About 60% of India's LPG is imported, and about 90% of those imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow Gulf chokepoint now largely blocked by the war. The relevant department says that it instructed refineries to maximise LPG output for home needs, lifting domestic production by about 25%. Business-grade fuel is being reserved for vital industries such as hospitals and educational institutions, while distribution will be "just and open". "Some panic booking and stockpiling has been triggered by misinformation. The standard supply timeline for home fuel remains about 60 hours," says a ministry representative. Growing Panic Now the concern is extending beyond kitchens. On social media, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a extended procession of motorbikes outside a petrol pump. "Anxiety is palpable," the caption reads. India sources up to most of the oil it requires, leaving it highly exposed to problems in international markets. According to reports from energy specialists, concerns about India's broader petroleum stocks may be premature. India imports the overwhelming majority of its oil. Around 50% of its oil purchases - about 2.5 to 2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the strait, largely from regional suppliers. Even if oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are hindered, the gap could be partly offset by higher imports of competitively priced oil from Russia, according to a industry commentator. Based on vessel tracking and industry information, increased Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, narrowing India's effective shortfall from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about 1.6 million barrels a day. "A large quantity of Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only key buyers as major buyers, those barrels remain a ready fallback," an analyst noted. LPG: The Real Vulnerability The real vulnerability is kitchen fuel, commentators observe. India consumes roughly one million barrels a day, but produces only less than half domestically, importing the rest - the vast majority through the Strait. Refineries can tweak operations to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a 10-20% boost would only lift domestic supply to about 47-50% of demand, leaving the country largely dependent on imports. In short: "Petroleum shortage concerns can be partially mitigated through diversification. Fuel availability remains fairly adequate. Kitchen fuel stocks is the critical issue to monitor in the coming weeks." What may be heightening the anxiety on the ground is not just tight supply but uneven distribution - and the usual problem of panic buying. An industry representative alleges opportunistic profiteering. "Distributors are misusing the situation - selling fuel on the black market and selling them at a high cost. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being stockpiled and sold at a premium." For now, India's petroleum stocks may be protected by global trade flows. But in restaurants across the country, the more urgent issue is simple: how to get the next gas canister.
People wait in lines to buy LPG tanks for home cooking in a major Indian city. The shockwaves of a military engagement being fought nearly 3,000km away are now reaching India's households. As US-Israeli strikes on Iran hinder energy deliveries through the key maritime chokepoint, availability of kitchen fuel are dwindling across India, compelling restaurants to shorten food lists, reduce operating times and in some cases close completely. Social media is flooded by video clips showing crowds outside fuel suppliers across Indian metros and localities as concerns over fuel supplies spread. Restaurant kitchens appear the most affected: the most severe shortage is in commercial eateries. "The state of affairs is alarming. LPG simply isn't available," says a representative of the an industry group. Most eateries run either on business-grade gas tanks or piped gas, and the lack of supply are now being experienced across the country. "Numerous restaurants have ceased operations - some in northern India, many in the southern region. People are turning to coal and wood and electronic appliances to keep kitchens going." Localized Effects In a western metro, local news say up to a fifth of hospitality businesses are already operating at reduced capacity as business fuel stocks tighten. In the southern cities of tech and coastal hubs, some eateries say their cylinder inventory have dwindled with little backup. "We can only make coffee and no other dishes - it is nothing less than pathetic. Commerce will take a hit," says a restaurant owner in Bengaluru. A eatery in Chennai which has closed its doors due to a scarcity of kitchen fuel. Restaurant managers are seeking alternatives. "Offering lists are shrinking, some are opening only for dinner and operating solely in the evening," an industry representative says, adding that closures are changing as supplies wax and wane. "A number of eateries in Delhi were shut yesterday - a couple are back in business. It's a changing landscape." Retailers observe a increase in sales of electronic cooking appliances, with some saying they are running out of them. Official Position Yet, the authorities insists there is no shortage. India has more than 30 crore domestic LPG users and authorities say stocks are being prioritized to households as conflict-related stress from the war in the Gulf ripple through energy markets. About 60% of India's LPG is imported, and about 90% of those imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow Gulf chokepoint now largely blocked by the war. The relevant department says that it instructed refineries to maximise LPG output for home needs, lifting domestic production by about 25%. Business-grade fuel is being reserved for vital industries such as hospitals and educational institutions, while distribution will be "just and open". "Some panic booking and stockpiling has been triggered by misinformation. The standard supply timeline for home fuel remains about 60 hours," says a ministry representative. Growing Panic Now the concern is extending beyond kitchens. On social media, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a extended procession of motorbikes outside a petrol pump. "Anxiety is palpable," the caption reads. India sources up to most of the oil it requires, leaving it highly exposed to problems in international markets. According to reports from energy specialists, concerns about India's broader petroleum stocks may be premature. India imports the overwhelming majority of its oil. Around 50% of its oil purchases - about 2.5 to 2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the strait, largely from regional suppliers. Even if oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are hindered, the gap could be partly offset by higher imports of competitively priced oil from Russia, according to a industry commentator. Based on vessel tracking and industry information, increased Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, narrowing India's effective shortfall from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about 1.6 million barrels a day. "A large quantity of Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only key buyers as major buyers, those barrels remain a ready fallback," an analyst noted. LPG: The Real Vulnerability The real vulnerability is kitchen fuel, commentators observe. India consumes roughly one million barrels a day, but produces only less than half domestically, importing the rest - the vast majority through the Strait. Refineries can tweak operations to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a 10-20% boost would only lift domestic supply to about 47-50% of demand, leaving the country largely dependent on imports. In short: "Petroleum shortage concerns can be partially mitigated through diversification. Fuel availability remains fairly adequate. Kitchen fuel stocks is the critical issue to monitor in the coming weeks." What may be heightening the anxiety on the ground is not just tight supply but uneven distribution - and the usual problem of panic buying. An industry representative alleges opportunistic profiteering. "Distributors are misusing the situation - selling fuel on the black market and selling them at a high cost. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being stockpiled and sold at a premium." For now, India's petroleum stocks may be protected by global trade flows. But in restaurants across the country, the more urgent issue is simple: how to get the next gas canister.