🔗 Share this article ‘A Critical Scenario’: War on Iran Constricts India's Cooking-Gas Availability. People wait in lines to buy cooking gas cylinders for domestic use in Chennai. The repercussions of a military engagement being fought nearly 1,864 miles away are now reaching India's kitchens. As aerial attacks on Iran disrupt energy deliveries through the vital shipping lane, stocks of kitchen fuel are dwindling across India, compelling restaurants to cut menus, close earlier and in some cases shut down altogether. Social media is filled with video clips showing crowds outside fuel suppliers across Indian metros and localities as worries over fuel supplies escalate. Commercial LPG users appear the most affected: the most severe shortage is in restaurant kitchens. "The situation is dire. Cooking gas simply isn't available," says a spokesperson of the an industry group. Most restaurants run either on commercial LPG cylinders or pipeline-supplied fuel, and the shortages are now being felt across the country. "Many restaurants have ceased operations - some in northern India, many in the southern states. People are turning to traditional burners and electric cookers to keep their operations going." Regional Impact In a western metro, media reports say up to a 20% of eateries are already operating at reduced capacity as business fuel stocks tighten. In the southern cities of Bangalore and Madras, some eateries say their cylinder inventory have depleted with scarce alternatives. "We can only make coffee and no other dishes - it is extremely difficult. Commerce will take a hit," says a restaurant owner in Bengaluru. A food joint in Chennai which has shut down due to a scarcity of cooking gas. Restaurant operators are scrambling to adapt. "Menus are being curtailed, some are cutting lunch service and opening only for dinner," an industry representative says, adding that stoppages are varying as supplies come and go. "Several establishments in Delhi were shut yesterday - a couple are back in business. It's a fluid situation." Retailers note a spike in sales of electronic cooking appliances, with some saying they are selling out quickly. Government Stance Yet, the authorities insists there is no shortage. India has more than a vast number of domestic LPG users and officials say supplies are being redirected to households as geopolitical strain from the war in the Gulf impact energy markets. About six out of ten of India's LPG is sourced from abroad, and about nine out of ten of those shipments pass through the key maritime route, the strategic bottleneck now significantly disrupted by the war. The oil ministry says that it instructed refineries to maximise LPG output for home needs, lifting domestic production by about a quarter. Business-grade fuel is being reserved for critical services such as healthcare and education, while distribution will be "just and open". "Some panic booking and stockpiling has been triggered by rumors. The standard supply timeline for domestic LPG remains about two-and-a-half days," says a senior official. Spreading Anxiety Now the worry is extending beyond kitchens. On online networks, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a lengthy, winding line of motorbikes outside a gas outlet. "Concern is genuine," the description reads. India sources up to 90% of the petroleum it consumes, leaving it highly exposed to problems in worldwide shipments. According to reports from industry analysts, concerns about India's broader fuel supplies may be overstated. India imports almost all of its crude oil. Around a significant portion of its crude oil imports - about 2.5-2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the strait, largely from Gulf countries. Even if petroleum transit through the Strait of Hormuz are hindered, the shortfall could be partly made up by higher imports of discounted Russian crude, according to a refinery and oil markets analyst. Based on vessel tracking and credible market sources, incremental 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. "A large quantity 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. Cooking Gas: The Critical Weakness The key weakness is LPG, analysts say. India consumes roughly a million barrels a day, but produces only 40-45% domestically, importing the rest - the vast majority through the chokepoint. Refineries can tweak operations to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a 10-20% boost would only lift domestic supply to about 47-50% of demand, leaving the country significantly leaning on imports. In short: "Petroleum shortage concerns can be somewhat alleviated through alternative sourcing. Fuel availability remains relatively comfortable. LPG availability is the key factor to track in the coming weeks." What may be intensifying the anxiety on the ground is not just limited availability but uneven distribution - and the familiar spectre of stockpiling. An industry representative alleges price gouging. "Distributors are misusing the situation - illegally trading canisters and selling them at a inflated price. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and auctioned off." For now, India's energy imports may be protected by global trade flows. But in restaurants across the country, the more immediate question is simple: how to get the next refill.
People wait in lines to buy cooking gas cylinders for domestic use in Chennai. The repercussions of a military engagement being fought nearly 1,864 miles away are now reaching India's kitchens. As aerial attacks on Iran disrupt energy deliveries through the vital shipping lane, stocks of kitchen fuel are dwindling across India, compelling restaurants to cut menus, close earlier and in some cases shut down altogether. Social media is filled with video clips showing crowds outside fuel suppliers across Indian metros and localities as worries over fuel supplies escalate. Commercial LPG users appear the most affected: the most severe shortage is in restaurant kitchens. "The situation is dire. Cooking gas simply isn't available," says a spokesperson of the an industry group. Most restaurants run either on commercial LPG cylinders or pipeline-supplied fuel, and the shortages are now being felt across the country. "Many restaurants have ceased operations - some in northern India, many in the southern states. People are turning to traditional burners and electric cookers to keep their operations going." Regional Impact In a western metro, media reports say up to a 20% of eateries are already operating at reduced capacity as business fuel stocks tighten. In the southern cities of Bangalore and Madras, some eateries say their cylinder inventory have depleted with scarce alternatives. "We can only make coffee and no other dishes - it is extremely difficult. Commerce will take a hit," says a restaurant owner in Bengaluru. A food joint in Chennai which has shut down due to a scarcity of cooking gas. Restaurant operators are scrambling to adapt. "Menus are being curtailed, some are cutting lunch service and opening only for dinner," an industry representative says, adding that stoppages are varying as supplies come and go. "Several establishments in Delhi were shut yesterday - a couple are back in business. It's a fluid situation." Retailers note a spike in sales of electronic cooking appliances, with some saying they are selling out quickly. Government Stance Yet, the authorities insists there is no shortage. India has more than a vast number of domestic LPG users and officials say supplies are being redirected to households as geopolitical strain from the war in the Gulf impact energy markets. About six out of ten of India's LPG is sourced from abroad, and about nine out of ten of those shipments pass through the key maritime route, the strategic bottleneck now significantly disrupted by the war. The oil ministry says that it instructed refineries to maximise LPG output for home needs, lifting domestic production by about a quarter. Business-grade fuel is being reserved for critical services such as healthcare and education, while distribution will be "just and open". "Some panic booking and stockpiling has been triggered by rumors. The standard supply timeline for domestic LPG remains about two-and-a-half days," says a senior official. Spreading Anxiety Now the worry is extending beyond kitchens. On online networks, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a lengthy, winding line of motorbikes outside a gas outlet. "Concern is genuine," the description reads. India sources up to 90% of the petroleum it consumes, leaving it highly exposed to problems in worldwide shipments. According to reports from industry analysts, concerns about India's broader fuel supplies may be overstated. India imports almost all of its crude oil. Around a significant portion of its crude oil imports - about 2.5-2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the strait, largely from Gulf countries. Even if petroleum transit through the Strait of Hormuz are hindered, the shortfall could be partly made up by higher imports of discounted Russian crude, according to a refinery and oil markets analyst. Based on vessel tracking and credible market sources, incremental 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. "A large quantity 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. Cooking Gas: The Critical Weakness The key weakness is LPG, analysts say. India consumes roughly a million barrels a day, but produces only 40-45% domestically, importing the rest - the vast majority through the chokepoint. Refineries can tweak operations to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a 10-20% boost would only lift domestic supply to about 47-50% of demand, leaving the country significantly leaning on imports. In short: "Petroleum shortage concerns can be somewhat alleviated through alternative sourcing. Fuel availability remains relatively comfortable. LPG availability is the key factor to track in the coming weeks." What may be intensifying the anxiety on the ground is not just limited availability but uneven distribution - and the familiar spectre of stockpiling. An industry representative alleges price gouging. "Distributors are misusing the situation - illegally trading canisters and selling them at a inflated price. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and auctioned off." For now, India's energy imports may be protected by global trade flows. But in restaurants across the country, the more immediate question is simple: how to get the next refill.