🔗 Share this article ‘An Alarming State of Affairs’: Conflict on Iran Squeezes India's LPG Supplies. People line up to buy cooking gas cylinders for domestic use in an urban center. The ripple effects of a conflict being fought nearly 3,000km away are now reaching India's homes. As military actions on Iran impede energy deliveries through the key maritime chokepoint, availability of kitchen fuel are shrinking across India, compelling restaurants to shorten food lists, shorten hours and in some cases shut down altogether. Social media is awash with video clips showing crowds outside fuel suppliers across Indian urban and rural areas as worries over fuel supplies grow. Restaurant kitchens appear the worst hit: the biggest crunch is in restaurant kitchens. "The state of affairs is alarming. Kitchen fuel simply isn't available," says a official of the a major restaurant body. Most food outlets run either on business-grade gas tanks or piped gas, and the lack of supply are now being noticed across the country. "Many restaurants have ceased operations - some in Delhi, many in the southern states. People are adopting coal and wood and electric cookers to keep kitchens going." Regional Impact In a financial hub, media reports say up to a significant portion of hotels and restaurants are already completely or partially closed as commercial LPG supplies dry up. In the southern cities of Bengaluru and Chennai, some establishments say their gas stocks have dwindled with minimal reserves. "Our menu is reduced to coffee and no other dishes - it is truly dismal. Operations will be impacted," says a chain proprietor in Bengaluru. A restaurant 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 operating solely in the evening," an industry representative says, adding that shutdowns are varying as supplies come and go. "Several establishments in Delhi were shut yesterday - two have already reopened. It's a fluid situation." Retailers report a surge in sales of electric cookers, with some saying they are facing stockouts. Government Stance Yet, the authorities maintains there is no shortage. India has more than a vast number of home fuel subscribers and authorities say cylinders are being reallocated to households as conflict-related stress from the war in the Gulf impact energy markets. About a majority of India's LPG is brought in from overseas, and about 90% of those consignments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the vital passage now significantly disrupted by the war. The relevant department says that it ordered refineries to maximise LPG output for home needs, enhancing domestic production by about a quarter. Non-domestic supply is being reserved for vital industries such as medical and academic centers, while distribution will be "just and open". "Some panic booking and hoarding has been caused by rumors. The standard supply timeline for household cylinders remains about under three days," says a senior official. Spreading Anxiety Now the anxiety is spreading beyond kitchens. On social media, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a extended procession of two-wheelers outside a gas outlet. "Anxiety is palpable," the caption reads. India imports up to most of the oil it requires, leaving it significantly susceptible to disruptions in global supplies. According to data from energy specialists, concerns about India's broader fuel supplies may be exaggerated. India imports 90% of its crude oil. Around a significant portion of its oil purchases - about 2.5 to 2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the strait, largely from Middle Eastern nations. Even if crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz are blocked, the shortfall could be partly offset by higher imports of discounted Russian crude, according to a refinery and oil markets analyst. Based on maritime intelligence and credible market sources, increased Russian crude imports could reach around a significant volume of barrels a day, narrowing India's effective gap from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about a substantial volume of barrels a day. "Around 25-30 million Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only two major Asian economies as major buyers, those barrels remain a ready fallback," an analyst noted. Kitchen Fuel: The Primary Concern The key weakness is cooking gas, experts note. 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 modify output to extract a bit more LPG, but even a moderate increase would only raise domestic supply to about around half of demand, leaving the country significantly leaning on imports. In short: "Petroleum shortage concerns can be somewhat alleviated through varied suppliers. Refined product supply remains largely sufficient. Cooking gas supply is the critical issue to watch in the coming weeks." What may be heightening the concern on the ground is not just scarcity but uneven distribution - and the common threat of panic buying. An industry representative states exploitative practices. "Retailers are exploiting the situation - selling fuel on the black market and selling them at a high cost. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and auctioned off." For now, India's oil supplies may be buffered by global trade flows. But in kitchens across the country, the more immediate question is simple: how to get the next cylinder.
People line up to buy cooking gas cylinders for domestic use in an urban center. The ripple effects of a conflict being fought nearly 3,000km away are now reaching India's homes. As military actions on Iran impede energy deliveries through the key maritime chokepoint, availability of kitchen fuel are shrinking across India, compelling restaurants to shorten food lists, shorten hours and in some cases shut down altogether. Social media is awash with video clips showing crowds outside fuel suppliers across Indian urban and rural areas as worries over fuel supplies grow. Restaurant kitchens appear the worst hit: the biggest crunch is in restaurant kitchens. "The state of affairs is alarming. Kitchen fuel simply isn't available," says a official of the a major restaurant body. Most food outlets run either on business-grade gas tanks or piped gas, and the lack of supply are now being noticed across the country. "Many restaurants have ceased operations - some in Delhi, many in the southern states. People are adopting coal and wood and electric cookers to keep kitchens going." Regional Impact In a financial hub, media reports say up to a significant portion of hotels and restaurants are already completely or partially closed as commercial LPG supplies dry up. In the southern cities of Bengaluru and Chennai, some establishments say their gas stocks have dwindled with minimal reserves. "Our menu is reduced to coffee and no other dishes - it is truly dismal. Operations will be impacted," says a chain proprietor in Bengaluru. A restaurant 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 operating solely in the evening," an industry representative says, adding that shutdowns are varying as supplies come and go. "Several establishments in Delhi were shut yesterday - two have already reopened. It's a fluid situation." Retailers report a surge in sales of electric cookers, with some saying they are facing stockouts. Government Stance Yet, the authorities maintains there is no shortage. India has more than a vast number of home fuel subscribers and authorities say cylinders are being reallocated to households as conflict-related stress from the war in the Gulf impact energy markets. About a majority of India's LPG is brought in from overseas, and about 90% of those consignments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the vital passage now significantly disrupted by the war. The relevant department says that it ordered refineries to maximise LPG output for home needs, enhancing domestic production by about a quarter. Non-domestic supply is being reserved for vital industries such as medical and academic centers, while distribution will be "just and open". "Some panic booking and hoarding has been caused by rumors. The standard supply timeline for household cylinders remains about under three days," says a senior official. Spreading Anxiety Now the anxiety is spreading beyond kitchens. On social media, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a extended procession of two-wheelers outside a gas outlet. "Anxiety is palpable," the caption reads. India imports up to most of the oil it requires, leaving it significantly susceptible to disruptions in global supplies. According to data from energy specialists, concerns about India's broader fuel supplies may be exaggerated. India imports 90% of its crude oil. Around a significant portion of its oil purchases - about 2.5 to 2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the strait, largely from Middle Eastern nations. Even if crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz are blocked, the shortfall could be partly offset by higher imports of discounted Russian crude, according to a refinery and oil markets analyst. Based on maritime intelligence and credible market sources, increased Russian crude imports could reach around a significant volume of barrels a day, narrowing India's effective gap from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about a substantial volume of barrels a day. "Around 25-30 million Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only two major Asian economies as major buyers, those barrels remain a ready fallback," an analyst noted. Kitchen Fuel: The Primary Concern The key weakness is cooking gas, experts note. 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 modify output to extract a bit more LPG, but even a moderate increase would only raise domestic supply to about around half of demand, leaving the country significantly leaning on imports. In short: "Petroleum shortage concerns can be somewhat alleviated through varied suppliers. Refined product supply remains largely sufficient. Cooking gas supply is the critical issue to watch in the coming weeks." What may be heightening the concern on the ground is not just scarcity but uneven distribution - and the common threat of panic buying. An industry representative states exploitative practices. "Retailers are exploiting the situation - selling fuel on the black market and selling them at a high cost. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and auctioned off." For now, India's oil supplies may be buffered by global trade flows. But in kitchens across the country, the more immediate question is simple: how to get the next cylinder.