🔗 Share this article ‘A Critical Scenario’: War on Iran Constricts India's Cooking-Gas Availability. People queue up to buy LPG tanks for home cooking in Chennai. The shockwaves of a war being fought nearly 1,864 miles away are now being felt in India's households. As US-Israeli strikes on Iran impede energy deliveries through the Strait of Hormuz, availability of cooking gas are shrinking across India, forcing restaurants to cut menus, reduce operating times and in some cases shut down altogether. Social media is flooded by video clips showing crowds outside cooking-gas dealers across Indian urban and rural areas as worries over fuel supplies spread. Restaurant kitchens appear the most affected: the most severe shortage is in commercial eateries. "The state of affairs is alarming. LPG simply isn't available," says a spokesperson of the a major restaurant body. Most restaurants run either on commercial LPG cylinders or pipeline-supplied fuel, and the scarcities are now being felt across the country. "Many restaurants have shut down - some in northern India, many in the south. People are adopting coal and wood and induction stoves to keep their operations going." Regional Impact In a financial hub, local news say up to a fifth of eateries are already completely or partially closed as business fuel stocks dwindle. In the southern cities of Bangalore and Madras, some eateries say their cylinder inventory have shrunk with scarce alternatives. "We can only make coffee and no food items - it is nothing less than pathetic. Operations will be impacted," says a business operator in Bengaluru. A eatery in Chennai which has shut down due to a shortage of kitchen fuel. Restaurant owners are scrambling to adapt. "Offering lists are shrinking, some are opening only for dinner and opening only for dinner," an industry representative says, adding that stoppages are varying as supplies ebb and flow. "A number of eateries in Delhi were shut yesterday - some have resumed operations. It's a dynamic scenario." Retailers observe a increase in sales of induction stoves, with some saying they are selling out quickly. Official Position Yet, the authorities maintains there is no shortage. India has more than 300 million home fuel subscribers and spokespersons say cylinders are being reallocated to households as conflict-related stress from the war in the Gulf affect energy markets. About six out of ten of India's LPG is brought in from overseas, and about the vast majority of those imports pass through the critical waterway, the narrow Gulf chokepoint now effectively closed by the conflict. The oil ministry says that it ordered refineries to boost LPG output for home needs, enhancing domestic production by about 25%. Business-grade fuel is being allocated for critical services such as healthcare and education, while distribution will be "just and open". "Some panic booking and accumulation has been caused by false reports. The regular refill period for home fuel remains about under three days," says a government spokesperson. Spreading Anxiety Now the anxiety is moving beyond kitchens. On social media, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a extended procession of two-wheelers outside a fuel station. "The panic is real," the description reads. India brings in up to most of the crude it requires, leaving it significantly susceptible to disruptions in global supplies. According to reports from industry analysts, concerns about India's broader energy security may be overstated. India imports almost all of its crude oil. Around 50% of its petroleum shipments - about 2.5-2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the strait, largely from regional suppliers. Even if crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted, the shortfall could be partly offset by higher imports of Russian petroleum, according to a refinery and oil markets analyst. Based on vessel tracking and industry information, 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 a substantial volume of barrels a day. "Tens of millions of Russian oil barrels are currently on the water in the Indian Ocean and, with only key buyers as major buyers, those barrels remain a viable alternative," an analyst noted. Kitchen Fuel: The Primary Concern The key weakness is LPG, experts note. India consumes roughly 1 million barrels a day, but produces only 40-45% domestically, importing the rest - 80–90% through Hormuz. Refineries can adjust processes to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a moderate increase would only lift domestic supply to about under half of demand, leaving the country heavily reliant on imports. In short: "Oil import vulnerability can be moderately reduced through varied suppliers. Refined product supply remains relatively comfortable. Cooking gas supply is the key factor to monitor in the coming weeks." What may be worsening the concern on the ground is not just tight supply but patchy deliveries - and the usual problem of panic buying. An industry representative claims opportunistic profiteering. "Retailers are taking advantage of the situation - illegally trading canisters and selling them at a inflated price. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and sold to the highest bidder." For now, India's petroleum stocks may be buffered by international market dynamics. But in kitchens across the country, the more immediate question is simple: how to get the next cylinder.
People queue up to buy LPG tanks for home cooking in Chennai. The shockwaves of a war being fought nearly 1,864 miles away are now being felt in India's households. As US-Israeli strikes on Iran impede energy deliveries through the Strait of Hormuz, availability of cooking gas are shrinking across India, forcing restaurants to cut menus, reduce operating times and in some cases shut down altogether. Social media is flooded by video clips showing crowds outside cooking-gas dealers across Indian urban and rural areas as worries over fuel supplies spread. Restaurant kitchens appear the most affected: the most severe shortage is in commercial eateries. "The state of affairs is alarming. LPG simply isn't available," says a spokesperson of the a major restaurant body. Most restaurants run either on commercial LPG cylinders or pipeline-supplied fuel, and the scarcities are now being felt across the country. "Many restaurants have shut down - some in northern India, many in the south. People are adopting coal and wood and induction stoves to keep their operations going." Regional Impact In a financial hub, local news say up to a fifth of eateries are already completely or partially closed as business fuel stocks dwindle. In the southern cities of Bangalore and Madras, some eateries say their cylinder inventory have shrunk with scarce alternatives. "We can only make coffee and no food items - it is nothing less than pathetic. Operations will be impacted," says a business operator in Bengaluru. A eatery in Chennai which has shut down due to a shortage of kitchen fuel. Restaurant owners are scrambling to adapt. "Offering lists are shrinking, some are opening only for dinner and opening only for dinner," an industry representative says, adding that stoppages are varying as supplies ebb and flow. "A number of eateries in Delhi were shut yesterday - some have resumed operations. It's a dynamic scenario." Retailers observe a increase in sales of induction stoves, with some saying they are selling out quickly. Official Position Yet, the authorities maintains there is no shortage. India has more than 300 million home fuel subscribers and spokespersons say cylinders are being reallocated to households as conflict-related stress from the war in the Gulf affect energy markets. About six out of ten of India's LPG is brought in from overseas, and about the vast majority of those imports pass through the critical waterway, the narrow Gulf chokepoint now effectively closed by the conflict. The oil ministry says that it ordered refineries to boost LPG output for home needs, enhancing domestic production by about 25%. Business-grade fuel is being allocated for critical services such as healthcare and education, while distribution will be "just and open". "Some panic booking and accumulation has been caused by false reports. The regular refill period for home fuel remains about under three days," says a government spokesperson. Spreading Anxiety Now the anxiety is moving beyond kitchens. On social media, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a extended procession of two-wheelers outside a fuel station. "The panic is real," the description reads. India brings in up to most of the crude it requires, leaving it significantly susceptible to disruptions in global supplies. According to reports from industry analysts, concerns about India's broader energy security may be overstated. India imports almost all of its crude oil. Around 50% of its petroleum shipments - about 2.5-2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the strait, largely from regional suppliers. Even if crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted, the shortfall could be partly offset by higher imports of Russian petroleum, according to a refinery and oil markets analyst. Based on vessel tracking and industry information, 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 a substantial volume of barrels a day. "Tens of millions of Russian oil barrels are currently on the water in the Indian Ocean and, with only key buyers as major buyers, those barrels remain a viable alternative," an analyst noted. Kitchen Fuel: The Primary Concern The key weakness is LPG, experts note. India consumes roughly 1 million barrels a day, but produces only 40-45% domestically, importing the rest - 80–90% through Hormuz. Refineries can adjust processes to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a moderate increase would only lift domestic supply to about under half of demand, leaving the country heavily reliant on imports. In short: "Oil import vulnerability can be moderately reduced through varied suppliers. Refined product supply remains relatively comfortable. Cooking gas supply is the key factor to monitor in the coming weeks." What may be worsening the concern on the ground is not just tight supply but patchy deliveries - and the usual problem of panic buying. An industry representative claims opportunistic profiteering. "Retailers are taking advantage of the situation - illegally trading canisters and selling them at a inflated price. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and sold to the highest bidder." For now, India's petroleum stocks may be buffered by international market dynamics. But in kitchens across the country, the more immediate question is simple: how to get the next cylinder.