🔗 Share this article ‘The Situation is Dire’: War on Iran Constricts India's Cooking-Gas Availability. People wait in lines to buy fuel canisters for household consumption in Chennai. The repercussions of a military engagement being fought nearly 3,000km away are now impacting India's households. As aerial attacks on Iran disrupt energy shipments through the key maritime chokepoint, supplies of kitchen fuel are shrinking across India, compelling restaurants to reduce offerings, reduce operating times and in some cases close completely. Social media is flooded by video clips showing queues outside cooking-gas dealers across Indian metros and localities as concerns over fuel supplies grow. Businesses appear the worst hit: the sharpest squeeze is in commercial eateries. "The situation is dire. Cooking gas simply isn't available," says a spokesperson of the a major restaurant body. Most food outlets run either on industrial fuel canisters or direct gas lines, and the shortages are now being felt across the country. "Many restaurants have shut down - some in Delhi, many in the southern region. People are turning to coal and wood and electric cookers to keep food preparation going." Localized Effects In Mumbai, local news say up to a significant portion of eateries are already operating at reduced capacity as commercial LPG supplies dry up. In the southern cities of tech and coastal hubs, some restaurants say their cylinder inventory have dwindled with scarce alternatives. "We can only make coffee and no food items - it is truly dismal. Businesses are going to suffer," says a restaurant owner in Bengaluru. A restaurant in Chennai which has shut down due to a shortage of cooking gas. Restaurant managers are rushing to adjust. "Offering lists are shrinking, some are cutting lunch service and reducing hours," an industry representative says, adding that shutdowns are changing as supplies come and go. "A number of eateries in Delhi were shut yesterday - two have already reopened. It's a dynamic scenario." Retailers report a increase in sales of electric cookers, with some saying they are selling out quickly. Government Stance Yet, the authorities states there is adequate supply. India has more than a vast number of household consumers and officials say cylinders are being prioritized to households as geopolitical strain from the war in the Gulf affect energy markets. Approximately a majority of India's LPG is sourced from abroad, and about nine out of ten of those shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the vital passage now largely blocked by the war. The relevant department says that it ordered refineries to maximise LPG output for home needs, raising domestic production by about 25%. Non-domestic supply is being reserved for vital industries such as medical and academic centers, while distribution will be "just and open". "Some panic booking and stockpiling has been sparked by false reports. The normal delivery cycle for household cylinders remains about under three days," says a government spokesperson. Growing Panic Now the worry is extending beyond kitchens. On online networks, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a long, snaking queue of motorbikes outside a fuel station. "Concern is genuine," the text reads. India imports up to a vast majority of the crude it consumes, leaving it significantly susceptible to disruptions in international markets. According to reports from energy specialists, concerns about India's broader petroleum stocks may be premature. India imports 90% of its oil. Around 50% of its oil purchases - about 2.5-2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the passage, largely from regional suppliers. Even if crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz are hindered, the shortfall could be partly compensated for by higher imports of discounted Russian crude, according to a industry commentator. Based on maritime intelligence and credible market sources, incremental Russian crude imports could reach around a significant volume of barrels a day, lessening India's effective gap from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about a substantial volume of barrels a day. "Around 25-30 million Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only key buyers as major buyers, those barrels remain a ready fallback," an analyst noted. Cooking Gas: The Critical Weakness The key weakness is kitchen fuel, analysts say. India consumes roughly a million barrels a day, but produces only 40-45% domestically, importing the rest - the vast majority through the chokepoint. Refineries can adjust processes to produce a bit more LPG, but even a moderate increase would only raise domestic supply to about 47-50% of demand, leaving the country heavily reliant on imports. In short: "Petroleum shortage concerns can be partially mitigated through alternative sourcing. Processed petroleum stocks remains fairly adequate. Kitchen fuel stocks is the critical issue to track in the coming weeks." What may be intensifying the panic on the ground is not just scarcity but patchy deliveries - and the familiar spectre of hoarding. An industry representative states exploitative practices. "Distributors are taking advantage of the situation - illegally trading canisters and selling them at a high cost. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and auctioned off." For now, India's petroleum stocks may be buffered by worldwide shipping. But in homes across the country, the more immediate question is simple: how to get the next cylinder.
People wait in lines to buy fuel canisters for household consumption in Chennai. The repercussions of a military engagement being fought nearly 3,000km away are now impacting India's households. As aerial attacks on Iran disrupt energy shipments through the key maritime chokepoint, supplies of kitchen fuel are shrinking across India, compelling restaurants to reduce offerings, reduce operating times and in some cases close completely. Social media is flooded by video clips showing queues outside cooking-gas dealers across Indian metros and localities as concerns over fuel supplies grow. Businesses appear the worst hit: the sharpest squeeze is in commercial eateries. "The situation is dire. Cooking gas simply isn't available," says a spokesperson of the a major restaurant body. Most food outlets run either on industrial fuel canisters or direct gas lines, and the shortages are now being felt across the country. "Many restaurants have shut down - some in Delhi, many in the southern region. People are turning to coal and wood and electric cookers to keep food preparation going." Localized Effects In Mumbai, local news say up to a significant portion of eateries are already operating at reduced capacity as commercial LPG supplies dry up. In the southern cities of tech and coastal hubs, some restaurants say their cylinder inventory have dwindled with scarce alternatives. "We can only make coffee and no food items - it is truly dismal. Businesses are going to suffer," says a restaurant owner in Bengaluru. A restaurant in Chennai which has shut down due to a shortage of cooking gas. Restaurant managers are rushing to adjust. "Offering lists are shrinking, some are cutting lunch service and reducing hours," an industry representative says, adding that shutdowns are changing as supplies come and go. "A number of eateries in Delhi were shut yesterday - two have already reopened. It's a dynamic scenario." Retailers report a increase in sales of electric cookers, with some saying they are selling out quickly. Government Stance Yet, the authorities states there is adequate supply. India has more than a vast number of household consumers and officials say cylinders are being prioritized to households as geopolitical strain from the war in the Gulf affect energy markets. Approximately a majority of India's LPG is sourced from abroad, and about nine out of ten of those shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the vital passage now largely blocked by the war. The relevant department says that it ordered refineries to maximise LPG output for home needs, raising domestic production by about 25%. Non-domestic supply is being reserved for vital industries such as medical and academic centers, while distribution will be "just and open". "Some panic booking and stockpiling has been sparked by false reports. The normal delivery cycle for household cylinders remains about under three days," says a government spokesperson. Growing Panic Now the worry is extending beyond kitchens. On online networks, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a long, snaking queue of motorbikes outside a fuel station. "Concern is genuine," the text reads. India imports up to a vast majority of the crude it consumes, leaving it significantly susceptible to disruptions in international markets. According to reports from energy specialists, concerns about India's broader petroleum stocks may be premature. India imports 90% of its oil. Around 50% of its oil purchases - about 2.5-2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the passage, largely from regional suppliers. Even if crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz are hindered, the shortfall could be partly compensated for by higher imports of discounted Russian crude, according to a industry commentator. Based on maritime intelligence and credible market sources, incremental Russian crude imports could reach around a significant volume of barrels a day, lessening India's effective gap from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about a substantial volume of barrels a day. "Around 25-30 million Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only key buyers as major buyers, those barrels remain a ready fallback," an analyst noted. Cooking Gas: The Critical Weakness The key weakness is kitchen fuel, analysts say. India consumes roughly a million barrels a day, but produces only 40-45% domestically, importing the rest - the vast majority through the chokepoint. Refineries can adjust processes to produce a bit more LPG, but even a moderate increase would only raise domestic supply to about 47-50% of demand, leaving the country heavily reliant on imports. In short: "Petroleum shortage concerns can be partially mitigated through alternative sourcing. Processed petroleum stocks remains fairly adequate. Kitchen fuel stocks is the critical issue to track in the coming weeks." What may be intensifying the panic on the ground is not just scarcity but patchy deliveries - and the familiar spectre of hoarding. An industry representative states exploitative practices. "Distributors are taking advantage of the situation - illegally trading canisters and selling them at a high cost. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and auctioned off." For now, India's petroleum stocks may be buffered by worldwide shipping. But in homes across the country, the more immediate question is simple: how to get the next cylinder.