Punjab Power Minister Advocates for Sufficient LPG Supplies to Industry and Households

Punjab's Power Minister Warns of LPG Shortage Amid Iran War

Key Developments:

• Punjab's power minister Sanjeev Arora has expressed concerns over an adequate cooking gas supply for industry and households due to the ongoing Iran war.
• The war has disrupted energy supplies, with 90% of India's LPG and 40% of its oil supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Industry Impact:

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• The industrial sector, accounting for 29% of Punjab's economy, is expected to grow at a rate of 6.3% this fiscal, compared to the agriculture sector's 2.3% growth.
• Textiles, sports goods, steel, and metallurgy, agro-processing, chemicals, and petrochemicals are the biggest industries in the state, with exporters facing challenges in the Gulf region.

Government Initiatives:

• The petroleum and natural gas ministry has increased the allocation of commercial cylinders by 10% to states that promote the use of piped natural gas (PNG) and encourage consumers to switch from cylinders to piped gas.
• The government has proposed additional allocations for:

• 1% for state and district-level approvals
• 2% for issuing deemed CGD permissions
• 3% for introducing a "Dig and Restore scheme" for CGD entities
• 4% for reducing annual rental/lease charges for laying or operating CGD networks to zero

LPG Production and Supply:

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• India's LPG production has increased by 40% since March 5, when the government ordered refiners to maximize LPG output.
• However, LPG supply remains a concern, and consumers are advised to conserve gas usage and shift to PNG or alternative sources of fuel wherever possible.