NEW DELHI: Govt on Wednesday said oil companies have ramped up LPG output by 25%, helping bridge a part of the deficit due to deficient imports, and advised against panic buying as cylinders were being delivered in two-and-a-half days. India imports around 60% of LPG. “Feedback suggests panic booking and hoarding behaviour triggered by misinformation. I want to clarify that our normal delivery cycle for domestic LPG remains around two-and-a-half days… there is no need for customers to rush-book cylinders,” Sujata Sharma, joint secretary in the petroleum ministry, said at a press conference. Officials said states had been informed that there was enough stock to meet the requirement of domestic consumers, who are a priority for govt along with hospitals and educational institutions.She said domestic gas prices in India were lower than in other parts of the world. Addressing the issue of domestic cylinders being diverted, Sharma said they could not be delivered without the one-time password sent to the customer’s phone. She added that a three-member committee formed by the ministry was looking into the issue of consumers using commercial LPG cylinders and ensuring fair and transparent distribution.Sharma said India had diversified imports from nearly 40 countries and the supply remained secure. “Our daily consumption is about 55 lakh barrels. Through diversified procurement, the volumes we have secured today exceed what would normally have arrived through Strait of Hormuz in this period,” she said.Oil marketing companies had secured various crude cargoes from different sources and, as a result, about 70% of crude imports now come from routes outside the strait, compared to 55% earlier.“As I speak, two cargoes are headed for India and will arrive within a few days, which will further strengthen the crude supply position in the country,” Sharma said.She added that LNG was also being procured from new sources. Sharma said the supply of about 47.4 mmscmd was affected due to force majeure conditions.Special secretary in shipping ministry Rajesh Sinha said 28 India-flagged ships were in the Persian Gulf with 708 Indian seafarers and their safety remained a priority. Officials said around 10 ships have moved out to safe waters in the past few days.Officials from the external affairs ministry said ambassadors and consuls general were engaged with the Indian community to ensure their safety, and the ministry has established a control room to assist them. “Assistance is also being provided for land border crossings into Armenia and Azerbaijan,” said Aseem R Mahajan, MEA additional secretary.
