India's facing a bit of an LPG crisis due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted supplies from key import partners like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This has led to a drop in LPG consumption in March, with commercial establishments like hotels and restaurants bearing the brunt.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the domestic production of LPG is being ramped up to ensure cooking gas supplies to households, as imports have been disrupted following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing war in the Middle East. On LPG shortages, Sitharaman said India imports nearly 65% of its requirements.
"The Middle East crisis has come up with a new challenge...Overwhelmingly, 90% of the 65% LPG imports come from the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, there was speculation about whether we would get it or not.
"There are enough reports on how we are ensuring a steady flow during these turbulent times," she said.
Here are latest LPG rates across India, as per Indian Oil.
| City | Domestic (14.2 Kg) | Commercial (19 Kg) |
| New Delhi | 913 | 1,883.00 |
| Mumbai | 912.5 | 1,835 |
| Kolkata | 939 | 1,990.00 |
| Chennai | 928.5 | 2,043.50 |
| Bangalore | 915.5 | 1,958 |
| Hyderabad | 965 | 2,105.50 |
| Bhubaneswar | 939 | 2,029 |
| Jaipur | 942 | 1,972 |
| Lucknow | 950.5 | 2,007 |
| Patna | 1,002.50 | 2,133.50 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 922 | 1912 |
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India imports about 88% of its crude oil, 50% of its natural gas and 60% of its LPG needs. More than half of India's crude imports, about 30% of gas and 85-90% of LPG imports came from West Asian countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, through the Strait of Hormuz, reports news agency PTI.
The conflict has led to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the main transit route for Gulf energy supplies. While India has partly offset crude supply disruptions by sourcing oil from countries, including Russia, gas supplies have been curtailed to industrial users, and LPG availability to commercial establishments, such as hotels and restaurants, has been curtailed by a fifth.
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