Gas crisis paralyses MIDCCommercial supply halted since March 5

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, Iran and other countries has begun impacting industries in MIDC areas. Disruption in petroleum imports from Gulf countries has created a crisis, with over 400 industries facing shutdown and more than two lakh jobs at risk.

Commercial gas supply has been halted since March 5, forcing industries to continue production using limited reserves, with shutdowns likely once stocks are exhausted. At a CMIA press interaction held at Bajaj Bhavan, several key concerns were discussed. Sectors such as automobiles, beverages, bottling and pharmaceuticals are likely to be severely affected. Industry representatives have raised the issue with the state and central governments. Meanwhile, Canpack has begun shutting production lines due to the LPG shortage, and its furnace consumes about 12 metric tonnes of LPG daily, said Janardhan Kale, head of procurement and corporate affairs.

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Glass Bottle & Aluminium Can Industry (Canpack State)

Item

Data

Industry

Glass bottles & aluminium cans

Value

Rs 600 crore

Closure impact

Rs 500 crore

Restart

~6 months

Shutdown

~1 month

LPG use

~12 MT/day

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Beverage industry hit hard

The beverage industry faces a major setback as bottle manufacturing units suffer heavy losses, disrupting production and supply in the city’s key industrial cluster.

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Furnance shutdown may cause Rs 600 crore loss

Around 400 companies in nearby industrial areas run gas-based boilers. Canpack India Ltd, which needs about 12 metric tonnes of gas daily, has stock for only four days. The company employs around 1,000 workers, and shutting the furnance raises safety concerns. A shutdown could cause losses of nearly Rs 600 crore and affect pharma, beer and liquor industries.

- Vikram Potdar, CEO, Canpack India Ltd.

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400 industries need 72 tonnes of gas daily

Commercial gas supply has been halted since March 5. Around 300–400 companies depend on gas-based boilers and cannot quickly shift to alternative fuel. Industries require nearly 72 metric tonnes of gas daily. Supply may be prioritised for hospitals, while hotels and industries could face shortages next week.

- Pravin Phulari, district supply officer.