The Government of India has set out measures to maintain energy supplies and maritime safety amid developments in West Asia, coordinating action across ministries and State governments. Refiners are operating at high capacity and domestic LPG production has been increased to support consumption. Citizens have been urged to avoid panic buying, rely on official advisories and conserve energy.

Five kilogram FTL cylinders are available at local distributors on presentation of any valid identity document without requirement of address proof. Yesterday more than 71,000 such cylinders were sold and since 23 March about 0.57 million (mn) have been sold. Online bookings rose to 95 per cent and delivery authentication code based deliveries increased from 53 per cent to 89 per cent to prevent diversion. Around 5.1 mn domestic LPG cylinders were delivered yesterday and commercial allocation has been set at 70 per cent of pre-crisis levels including 10 per cent reform based measures.

Natural gas supplies have been prioritised with 100 per cent allocation to domestic piped natural gas and CNG transport while industrial and commercial consumers on the grid are receiving around 80 per cent of average consumption. Supply to operating urea plants will be raised to approximately 90 per cent of the preceding six-month average from six April. Since March more than 0.35 mn PNG connections have been gasified and over 0.38 mn customers have registered for new connections as city gas distribution networks expand.

Enforcement against hoarding and black marketing has been intensified with over 3,700 raids yesterday, about 1,000 show cause notices and 27 suspensions of distributorships. The LPG vessel Green Sanvi transited the Strait of Hormuz carrying 46,650 tonnes (t) and 72,047 t of commercial LPG has been sold since 14 March. Indian missions and the Directorate General of Shipping operate 24x7 helplines, have facilitated repatriation of over 1,320 seafarers and continue to monitor port operations.