The Center has tightened rules related to the use of domestic cooking gas in India. Families who have both LPG cylinders and PNG connections (natural gas pipelines) will now have to choose one. In most cases, if the PNG is active, the LPG cylinder connection should be delivered.
This rule is implemented under the supervision of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and has legal backing, which means that oil companies must follow it.
What is the new rule?
- A household cannot have LPG and PNG connections at the same time.
- If PNG is installed and used, the LPG cylinder connection must be delivered.
- LPG refills may be discontinued for households already using PNG.
- Directing oil companies not to issue LPG connections in such cases.
Why is this done?
The government says the decision is linked to global energy pressures.
Main reasons:
- India imports most of its liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas needs.
- Supply routes in West Asia, especially The Strait of Hormuz faces risks in the face of the US-Israeli war on Iran. Disturbances in this region could impact fuel availability and prices in India.
To address this, the government is trying to:
- Reduce frequent access to fuel in the same household.
- Prioritize LPG for homes that do not contain PNG.
- Push PNG as a more stable pipeline-based system.
What is PNG and why is it preferred?
PNG (Natural gas is supplied via pipelines directly to homes.
Comparison with LPG cylinders:
- It does not require cylinder delivery logistics.
- It is less affected by import/shipping disruptions.
- It is considered more stable in urban supply systems.
For this reason, the government is encouraging more families to move to Papua New Guinea where available.
Nearly 50% of natural gas is imported, while about 88% is imported Crude oil comes from abroad. When global supply chains are disrupted, prices rise and supply becomes uncertain.
The government has assured that LPG supplies are up to 100% for local consumers, and there is currently no shortage of gas at any LPG distributor.
About 95% of LPG cylinder deliveries are carried out through the Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) system. In the last two days, 87.28 lakh cylinders were delivered against 88.82 lakh bookings. Sales of about 15,900 tons of commercial LPG and 876 tons of automotive LPG were also recorded.
How is the rule applied?
Implementation has already begun:
- Gas companies identify households with both connections.
- Users are asked to verify logs.
- Some families are being asked to hand over LPG cylinders.
- LPG distributors have been warned not to serve dual connection users.
Reports also indicate that thousands of consumers have already given up on LPG after switching to PNG.
What happens if you don’t comply?
Authorities may stop LPG refills, cut off LPG connections, or impose sanctions in some cases.
What should consumers do?
- Check if your LPG connection is linked to your mobile number.
- Check your status on official gas portals or apps.
- If PNG is active, coordinate with your distributor for LPG delivery.
- Make sure your logs are up to date to avoid service interruptions.
