New Delhi: In a bid to wean consumers away from LPG, govt has decided to stop after three months the supply of cylinders to households that have access to piped natural gas (PNG) but have shied away from taking a connection.LPG supply will not be stopped if the authorised entity issues a no-objection certificate stating that providing a PNG connection is technically not feasible. Govt’s move comes amid LPG shortage due to imports being impacted by the West Asia war. India imports about 60% of its LPG requirement, with nearly 90% of it coming from West Asian countries through Strait of Hormuz. Although about half of the requirement of liquefied natural gas (LNG)—which is converted into PNG and compressed natural gas (CNG) and also used by fertiliser and petrochemical units, industries and power plants—is also imported, officials said its supplies remain comfortable due to diversified sourcing and can be ramped up.The move will help free up LPG supplies from areas with pipeline connectivity and divert them to regions facing shortages. A senior gas company official said even rented houses where owners have not taken PNG connections and tenants currently use LPG will have to switch. “Gas is also a utility akin to electricity and water. The owner does not have a choice but to take a PNG connection,” the official said. Petroleum ministry officials said city gas distribution companies will soon send a communication through registered or speed post to LPG consumers who can switch to PNG. Several unauthorised colonies, villages and slums with narrow lanes do not have such networks. According to the ministry’s estimates, nearly 60 lakh domestic and commercial LPG consumers can shift to PNG as pipeline networks are available in their neighbourhoods. As of Dec 2025, there were over 1.6 crore domestic, 48,157 commercial and 21,373 industrial PNG connections in the country. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has authorised gas distribution companies to lay networks in 307 geographical areas and has set a target of providing 12.6 crore PNG connections by 2032. Sujata Sharma, joint secretary in the petroleum ministry, said 2.2 lakh consumers have switched from LPG to PNG in the last few days.
