New Delhi: The government on Sunday said that around 2.9 lakh new piped natural gas (PNG) connections were added in March, while about 6,000 consumers surrendered their LPG connections over the past three days. The move is helping ease pressure on LPG supplies amid disruptions caused by the West Asia conflict.
Petroleum secretary Neeraj Mittal, in a post on X, urged more consumers to give up LPG if they have access to PNG. He said those who have already done so are helping ensure LPG availability for households that lack piped gas access.
The government has made PNG connections mandatory in areas where pipeline infrastructure exists and has announced that LPG supply will be discontinued after three months in such locations.
To facilitate the transition, a dedicated portal has been launched where PNG users can opt to surrender their LPG connections. Distributors will collect cylinders from homes and refund the security deposit.
In a statement, the petroleum ministry said it is focused on maintaining uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG across the country. While LPG supplies have been impacted by the geopolitical situation, officials said deliveries remain normal, with around 55 lakh refills completed on Saturday.
The ministry also assured that petrol and diesel stocks are adequate.
Addressing concerns over gas supply for fertiliser production, the government said PNG availability for urea plants has remained steady at about 70–75% of their average consumption over the past six months. It added that industrial consumers, including fertiliser units, have been asked to submit additional demand on a spot basis so that gas marketing companies can arrange supplies accordingly.
To further stabilise supply, additional liquefied and regasified natural gas cargoes are being sourced to maintain availability and ensure smooth pipeline operations.
