🔗 Share this article ‘A Critical Scenario’: Hostilities on Iran Squeezes India's Cooking-Gas Supplies. People line up to buy cooking gas cylinders for household consumption in an urban center. The shockwaves of a military engagement being fought nearly 1,864 miles away are now reaching India's homes. As military actions on Iran impede energy deliveries through the Strait of Hormuz, stocks of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are tightening across India, compelling restaurants to cut menus, shorten hours and in some cases cease operations entirely. Social media is awash with video clips showing queues outside fuel suppliers across Indian urban and rural areas as anxieties over fuel supplies escalate. Commercial LPG users appear the most affected: the biggest crunch is in commercial eateries. "The situation is dire. Cooking gas simply is unavailable," says a representative of the an industry group. Most restaurants run either on industrial fuel canisters or piped gas, and the lack of supply are now being felt across the country. "Numerous restaurants have ceased operations - some in northern India, many in the southern states. People are switching to coal and wood and electric cookers to keep kitchens going." Localized Effects In a western metro, accounts say up to a significant portion of eateries are already fully or partly shut as commercial LPG supplies dwindle. In the southern cities of tech and coastal hubs, some restaurants say their gas stocks have depleted with little backup. "Coffee is the sole item we can prepare and no food items - it is extremely difficult. Commerce will take a hit," says a business operator in Bengaluru. A restaurant in a southern city which has ceased operations due to a scarcity of cooking gas. Restaurant managers are scrambling to adapt. "Offering lists are shrinking, some are skipping midday meals and operating solely in the evening," an industry representative says, adding that stoppages are varying as supplies wax and wane. "Several establishments in Delhi were shut yesterday - two have already reopened. It's a fluid situation." Retailers note a surge in sales of electric cookers, with some saying they are selling out quickly. Official Position Yet, the officials insists there is adequate supply. India has more than 30 crore domestic LPG users and authorities say cylinders are being reallocated to households as tensions from the regional hostilities affect energy markets. Approximately six out of ten of India's LPG is brought in from overseas, and about 90% of those shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow Gulf chokepoint now significantly disrupted by the war. The relevant department says that it ordered refineries to increase LPG output for household consumption, raising domestic production by about a significant margin. Business-grade fuel is being prioritised for essential sectors such as healthcare and education, while distribution will be "equitable and clear". "A degree of anxious stocking and stockpiling has been caused by misinformation. The standard supply timeline for home fuel remains about two-and-a-half days," says a government spokesperson. Growing Panic Now the concern is extending beyond kitchens. On digital platforms, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a lengthy, winding line of motorbikes outside a fuel station. "Anxiety is palpable," the caption reads. India sources up to most of the oil it consumes, leaving it significantly susceptible to problems in global supplies. According to analysis from market experts, concerns about India's broader energy security may be overstated. India imports almost all of its crude oil. Around 50% of its oil purchases - about millions of barrels a day - travel through the passage, largely from regional suppliers. Even if crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz are hindered, the gap could be partly made up by higher imports of competitively priced oil from Russia, according to a refinery and oil markets analyst. Based on vessel tracking and credible market sources, additional Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, lessening India's effective shortfall from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about 1.6 million barrels a day. "Tens of millions of Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only India and China as major buyers, those barrels remain a viable alternative," an analyst noted. Cooking Gas: The Critical Weakness The key weakness is cooking gas, experts note. India consumes roughly 1 million barrels a day, but produces only a minority share domestically, importing the rest - 80–90% through Hormuz. Refineries can tweak operations to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a moderate increase would only raise domestic supply to about under half of demand, leaving the country heavily reliant on imports. In short: "Petroleum shortage concerns can be partially mitigated through varied suppliers. Fuel availability remains fairly adequate. Cooking gas supply is the critical issue to monitor in the coming weeks." What may be worsening the concern on the ground is not just limited availability but patchy deliveries - and the familiar spectre of stockpiling. An industry representative claims opportunistic profiteering. "Retailers are taking advantage of the situation - black-marketing cylinders and selling them at a high cost. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being accumulated and sold to the highest bidder." For now, India's energy imports may be protected by worldwide shipping. But in restaurants across the country, the more immediate question is simple: how to get the next refill.
People line up to buy cooking gas cylinders for household consumption in an urban center. The shockwaves of a military engagement being fought nearly 1,864 miles away are now reaching India's homes. As military actions on Iran impede energy deliveries through the Strait of Hormuz, stocks of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are tightening across India, compelling restaurants to cut menus, shorten hours and in some cases cease operations entirely. Social media is awash with video clips showing queues outside fuel suppliers across Indian urban and rural areas as anxieties over fuel supplies escalate. Commercial LPG users appear the most affected: the biggest crunch is in commercial eateries. "The situation is dire. Cooking gas simply is unavailable," says a representative of the an industry group. Most restaurants run either on industrial fuel canisters or piped gas, and the lack of supply are now being felt across the country. "Numerous restaurants have ceased operations - some in northern India, many in the southern states. People are switching to coal and wood and electric cookers to keep kitchens going." Localized Effects In a western metro, accounts say up to a significant portion of eateries are already fully or partly shut as commercial LPG supplies dwindle. In the southern cities of tech and coastal hubs, some restaurants say their gas stocks have depleted with little backup. "Coffee is the sole item we can prepare and no food items - it is extremely difficult. Commerce will take a hit," says a business operator in Bengaluru. A restaurant in a southern city which has ceased operations due to a scarcity of cooking gas. Restaurant managers are scrambling to adapt. "Offering lists are shrinking, some are skipping midday meals and operating solely in the evening," an industry representative says, adding that stoppages are varying as supplies wax and wane. "Several establishments in Delhi were shut yesterday - two have already reopened. It's a fluid situation." Retailers note a surge in sales of electric cookers, with some saying they are selling out quickly. Official Position Yet, the officials insists there is adequate supply. India has more than 30 crore domestic LPG users and authorities say cylinders are being reallocated to households as tensions from the regional hostilities affect energy markets. Approximately six out of ten of India's LPG is brought in from overseas, and about 90% of those shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow Gulf chokepoint now significantly disrupted by the war. The relevant department says that it ordered refineries to increase LPG output for household consumption, raising domestic production by about a significant margin. Business-grade fuel is being prioritised for essential sectors such as healthcare and education, while distribution will be "equitable and clear". "A degree of anxious stocking and stockpiling has been caused by misinformation. The standard supply timeline for home fuel remains about two-and-a-half days," says a government spokesperson. Growing Panic Now the concern is extending beyond kitchens. On digital platforms, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a lengthy, winding line of motorbikes outside a fuel station. "Anxiety is palpable," the caption reads. India sources up to most of the oil it consumes, leaving it significantly susceptible to problems in global supplies. According to analysis from market experts, concerns about India's broader energy security may be overstated. India imports almost all of its crude oil. Around 50% of its oil purchases - about millions of barrels a day - travel through the passage, largely from regional suppliers. Even if crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz are hindered, the gap could be partly made up by higher imports of competitively priced oil from Russia, according to a refinery and oil markets analyst. Based on vessel tracking and credible market sources, additional Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, lessening India's effective shortfall from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about 1.6 million barrels a day. "Tens of millions of Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only India and China as major buyers, those barrels remain a viable alternative," an analyst noted. Cooking Gas: The Critical Weakness The key weakness is cooking gas, experts note. India consumes roughly 1 million barrels a day, but produces only a minority share domestically, importing the rest - 80–90% through Hormuz. Refineries can tweak operations to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a moderate increase would only raise domestic supply to about under half of demand, leaving the country heavily reliant on imports. In short: "Petroleum shortage concerns can be partially mitigated through varied suppliers. Fuel availability remains fairly adequate. Cooking gas supply is the critical issue to monitor in the coming weeks." What may be worsening the concern on the ground is not just limited availability but patchy deliveries - and the familiar spectre of stockpiling. An industry representative claims opportunistic profiteering. "Retailers are taking advantage of the situation - black-marketing cylinders and selling them at a high cost. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being accumulated and sold to the highest bidder." For now, India's energy imports may be protected by worldwide shipping. But in restaurants across the country, the more immediate question is simple: how to get the next refill.