The government has ordered households in areas with existing piped natural gas (PNG) infrastructure to switch from LPG cylinders to PNG connections within three months of notice, or lose gas refill supplies. The directive addresses mounting pressure on India's LPG imports amid the West Asia conflict. Petroleum ministry joint secretary Sujata Sharma described it as a supply security measure.
The Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution Order, 2026, issued on Tuesday under the Essential Commodities Act, directs local gas distributors to notify households in areas with existing pipeline infrastructure via registered or speed post. Households must apply for a PNG connection within three months, or LPG supply to that address will cease, as per the gazette notification. Applications can be submitted by the lawful occupier or premises owner. An exemption applies if the distributor certifies technical infeasibility with a no-objection certificate. Sujata Sharma, joint secretary in the petroleum ministry, confirmed the order during an inter-ministerial briefing. She stated, “Our import dependency for LPG is much higher than the import dependency for PNG or LNG. We produce 50% domestically as far as PNG is concerned. So, this is in the interest of nation that we shift from LPG to PNG.” The government estimates six million consumers can transition, with 0.22 million already having done so. India has 16.2 million domestic PNG connections compared to over 332 million LPG consumers, which rose from 140 million in 2014, including 105.6 million subsidised under PM Ujjwala Yojana. Over 60% of LPG is imported, with Qatar supplying 47%. Supplies from Qatar's Ras Laffan have been shut since Iran's strike on March 18, amid Strait of Hormuz navigation challenges. The notification also mandates landowners to grant right-of-way for pipeline laying.
