Ind feels LPG heat as Govt asks to look for alternatives; supply worries to city industries as current stock is limited

YOGESH GOLE

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Even as the government has increased the price of domestic LPG cylinders amid the ongoing America–Israel–Iran war, households have some relief as the union ministry of petroleum and natural gas has assured uninterrupted supply.

However, industries that depend on commercial cylinders have been hit hard. Apart from raising the prices, the government has also indicated that uninterrupted supply to industrial users may not be possible and they should explore alternative fuel sources.

Speaking to Lokmat Times, All India HP Gas Dealers Association vice-president Jitendra Kacker said, “The 19-kg commercial cylinders used by hotels have become costlier by Rs 115, taking the retail price to Rs 1,940. The 47.5-kg Liquid Off Take (LoT) cylinders are used by companies, while there are also 425-kg ‘Sumo’ cylinders. Users of all these three categories have been told that uninterrupted supply may not be possible and they should look for alternatives. Discounts for large industrial users and incentives for dealers have also been stopped.”

Sources said industries may explore options like furnace oil or diesel, but the present situation makes this difficult. The government is trying to offset the loss of fuel supplies from Iran by sourcing more from Russia, but this may take time.

Furnaces used in the auto and engineering industries - especially for processes like powder coating and painting - run on LPG. In small-scale units, LPG consumption for such processes can reach 10,000 kg per month.

Most industries currently have only four to five days’ stock. If the situation persists, it could affect production as well as employment. Industries are trying to continue operations with available stocks while exploring alternatives, said Mihir Soundalgekar, Honorary Secretary, CMIA, expressing hope that the government will find a solution.

No refill before a month?

Normally, a domestic LPG refill is not issued before 21 days. Though there has been no official announcement, changes in the internal software of LPG agencies suggest that customers may now have to wait a month for the next refill.

The government has increased the price of the 14.5-kg domestic LPG cylinder by Rs 60, taking it to Rs 921.50 from Rs 861.50. While consumers expected a hike due to the war, they were relieved by the assurance of uninterrupted supply. As of now, no queues for LPG refills have been reported anywhere in the country.