🔗 Share this article ‘The Situation is Dire’: Conflict on Iran Squeezes India's Cooking-Gas Supplies. People wait in lines to buy LPG tanks for household consumption in an urban center. The repercussions of a conflict being fought nearly 1,864 miles away are now impacting India's homes. As aerial attacks on Iran hinder energy deliveries through the key maritime chokepoint, supplies of cooking gas are dwindling across India, pushing restaurants to reduce offerings, close earlier and in some cases cease operations entirely. Social media is flooded by video clips showing crowds outside fuel suppliers across Indian cities and towns as anxieties over fuel supplies escalate. Businesses appear the worst hit: the biggest crunch is in food service establishments. "The situation is dire. LPG simply is unavailable," says a official of the a major restaurant body. Most restaurants run either on commercial LPG cylinders or piped gas, and the scarcities are now being noticed across the country. "A lot of restaurants have ceased operations - some in Delhi, many in the southern states. People are adopting solid fuels and electric cookers to keep kitchens going." Localized Effects In a financial hub, local news say up to a fifth of eateries are already completely or partially closed as business fuel stocks dry up. In the southern cities of Bangalore and Madras, some eateries say their gas stocks have dwindled with scarce alternatives. "Coffee is the sole item we can prepare and nothing else - it is extremely difficult. Businesses are going to suffer," says a chain proprietor in Bengaluru. A eatery in a southern city which has closed its doors due to a scarcity of kitchen fuel. Restaurant operators are seeking alternatives. "Food options are being cut, some are skipping midday meals and opening only for dinner," an industry representative says, adding that shutdowns are fluctuating as supplies come and go. "Several establishments in Delhi were shut yesterday - two have already reopened. It's a changing landscape." Retailers note a increase in sales of electronic cooking appliances, with some saying they are running out of them. Government Stance Yet, the authorities maintains there is no shortage. India has more than a vast number of domestic LPG users and authorities say cylinders are being reallocated to households as conflict-related stress from the regional hostilities affect energy markets. Roughly 60% of India's LPG is brought in from overseas, and about the vast majority of those imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the vital passage now largely blocked by the war. The petroleum ministry says that it ordered refineries to maximise LPG output for household consumption, enhancing domestic production by about a significant margin. Business-grade fuel is being prioritised for essential sectors such as healthcare and education, while distribution will be "equitable and clear". "Some panic booking and stockpiling has been caused by rumors. The standard supply timeline for household cylinders remains about under three days," says a government spokesperson. Growing Panic Now the anxiety is spreading beyond kitchens. On digital platforms, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a lengthy, winding line of scooters outside a fuel station. "The panic is real," the caption reads. India sources up to most of the crude it requires, leaving it particularly vulnerable to problems in international markets. According to data from market experts, concerns about India's broader fuel supplies may be overstated. India imports 90% of its oil. Around a significant portion of its crude oil imports - about 2.5 to 2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the waterway, largely from regional suppliers. Even if oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are hindered, the shortfall could be partly compensated for by higher imports of competitively priced oil from Russia, according to a refinery and oil markets analyst. Based on shipping data and credible market sources, additional Russian crude imports could reach around a significant volume of barrels a day, narrowing India's effective deficit from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about a substantial volume of barrels a day. "Tens of millions of Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only India and China as major buyers, those barrels remain a available backup," an analyst noted. LPG: The Real Vulnerability The key weakness is cooking gas, experts note. India consumes roughly 1 million barrels a day, but produces only 40-45% domestically, importing the rest - 80–90% through the Strait. Refineries can modify output to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a limited rise would only lift domestic supply to about under half of demand, leaving the country largely dependent on imports. In short: "Oil import vulnerability can be moderately reduced through diversification. Processed petroleum stocks remains fairly adequate. Kitchen fuel stocks is the key factor to monitor in the coming weeks." What may be heightening the anxiety on the ground is not just limited availability but patchy deliveries - and the usual problem of stockpiling. An industry representative states opportunistic profiteering. "Suppliers are misusing the situation - illegally trading canisters and selling them at a premium. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and auctioned off." For now, India's oil supplies may be protected by worldwide shipping. But in kitchens across the country, the more immediate question is simple: how to get the next gas canister.
People wait in lines to buy LPG tanks for household consumption in an urban center. The repercussions of a conflict being fought nearly 1,864 miles away are now impacting India's homes. As aerial attacks on Iran hinder energy deliveries through the key maritime chokepoint, supplies of cooking gas are dwindling across India, pushing restaurants to reduce offerings, close earlier and in some cases cease operations entirely. Social media is flooded by video clips showing crowds outside fuel suppliers across Indian cities and towns as anxieties over fuel supplies escalate. Businesses appear the worst hit: the biggest crunch is in food service establishments. "The situation is dire. LPG simply is unavailable," says a official of the a major restaurant body. Most restaurants run either on commercial LPG cylinders or piped gas, and the scarcities are now being noticed across the country. "A lot of restaurants have ceased operations - some in Delhi, many in the southern states. People are adopting solid fuels and electric cookers to keep kitchens going." Localized Effects In a financial hub, local news say up to a fifth of eateries are already completely or partially closed as business fuel stocks dry up. In the southern cities of Bangalore and Madras, some eateries say their gas stocks have dwindled with scarce alternatives. "Coffee is the sole item we can prepare and nothing else - it is extremely difficult. Businesses are going to suffer," says a chain proprietor in Bengaluru. A eatery in a southern city which has closed its doors due to a scarcity of kitchen fuel. Restaurant operators are seeking alternatives. "Food options are being cut, some are skipping midday meals and opening only for dinner," an industry representative says, adding that shutdowns are fluctuating as supplies come and go. "Several establishments in Delhi were shut yesterday - two have already reopened. It's a changing landscape." Retailers note a increase in sales of electronic cooking appliances, with some saying they are running out of them. Government Stance Yet, the authorities maintains there is no shortage. India has more than a vast number of domestic LPG users and authorities say cylinders are being reallocated to households as conflict-related stress from the regional hostilities affect energy markets. Roughly 60% of India's LPG is brought in from overseas, and about the vast majority of those imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the vital passage now largely blocked by the war. The petroleum ministry says that it ordered refineries to maximise LPG output for household consumption, enhancing domestic production by about a significant margin. Business-grade fuel is being prioritised for essential sectors such as healthcare and education, while distribution will be "equitable and clear". "Some panic booking and stockpiling has been caused by rumors. The standard supply timeline for household cylinders remains about under three days," says a government spokesperson. Growing Panic Now the anxiety is spreading beyond kitchens. On digital platforms, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a lengthy, winding line of scooters outside a fuel station. "The panic is real," the caption reads. India sources up to most of the crude it requires, leaving it particularly vulnerable to problems in international markets. According to data from market experts, concerns about India's broader fuel supplies may be overstated. India imports 90% of its oil. Around a significant portion of its crude oil imports - about 2.5 to 2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the waterway, largely from regional suppliers. Even if oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are hindered, the shortfall could be partly compensated for by higher imports of competitively priced oil from Russia, according to a refinery and oil markets analyst. Based on shipping data and credible market sources, additional Russian crude imports could reach around a significant volume of barrels a day, narrowing India's effective deficit from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about a substantial volume of barrels a day. "Tens of millions of Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only India and China as major buyers, those barrels remain a available backup," an analyst noted. LPG: The Real Vulnerability The key weakness is cooking gas, experts note. India consumes roughly 1 million barrels a day, but produces only 40-45% domestically, importing the rest - 80–90% through the Strait. Refineries can modify output to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a limited rise would only lift domestic supply to about under half of demand, leaving the country largely dependent on imports. In short: "Oil import vulnerability can be moderately reduced through diversification. Processed petroleum stocks remains fairly adequate. Kitchen fuel stocks is the key factor to monitor in the coming weeks." What may be heightening the anxiety on the ground is not just limited availability but patchy deliveries - and the usual problem of stockpiling. An industry representative states opportunistic profiteering. "Suppliers are misusing the situation - illegally trading canisters and selling them at a premium. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and auctioned off." For now, India's oil supplies may be protected by worldwide shipping. But in kitchens across the country, the more immediate question is simple: how to get the next gas canister.