New Delhi:- Various ministries of the central government on Thursday held a joint press conference to provide an update on the current situation regarding the oil and gas crisis, which has arisen due to tensions in the Middle East. Joint Secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs Asim Mahajan said that this is a testing time not only for India but for the entire global community.
Joint Secretary (Marketing and Oil Refineries) in the Ministry of Petroleum Sujata Sharma said that the LPG situation remains a matter of concern due to the ongoing conflict. However, she stressed that no LPG distributor in the country is currently facing shortage of cylinders.
According to the Ministry of Petroleum, the volume of online bookings across the country has increased by 94%. About 83% of refill deliveries are now being processed using 'Delivery Authentication Code'. Apart from this, the incidents of panic booking have started decreasing.
Sujata Sharma further explained that about 70% of India’s crude oil is now being sourced from areas located outside the Strait of Hormuz. While the current international situation has undoubtedly put pressure, there has been no increase in prices so far.

57,000 refill bookings recorded in a day
The Petroleum Ministry confirmed that the supply of LPG cylinders remains normal. On March 18, about 57,000 refill bookings were recorded. The government urged commercial LPG consumers to consider switching to CNG, noting that several companies have announced incentives to smooth the transition.
Sujata Sharma further said that the situation in the Middle East has a direct impact on India’s energy supply; as a result, the government is actively exploring options to secure supplies from alternative sources.