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India LPG crisis eases as second tanker arrives at Gujarat Port
Coordination with Iran ensured safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz; a third tanker with 81,000 tonnes of crude oil is also coming, says Indian government.
- PUBLISHED: Tue 17 Mar 2026, 2:28 PM
[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid US-Israel-Iran war for the latest regional developments.]
In a slight relief to over 300 million domestic gas consumers in India, the second carrier of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) reached Gujarat’s Vadinar port on Tuesday, carrying 46,500 metric tonnes of the gas after navigating the Strait of Hormuz. The first such carrier after the start of the US-Israel-Iran war on February 28, reached Mundra port in Gujarat a day earlier, carrying 46,000 mt of LPG.
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Officials said the operation of transporting the carriers was successful because of the coordinated efforts of the Indian and Iranian governments and their navies in ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
A third tanker with 81,000 tonnes of crude oil is also heading to India, according to the Indian government.
LPG from ‘Nanda Devi,’ the ship that docked at Vadinar, were being shifted to smaller vessels, which will transport them to Ennore in Tamil Nadu and Haldia in West Bengal.
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Sushil Kumar Singh, chairman, Deendayal Port (Kandla) told the media on Tuesday that incoming LPG vessels are being given top priority and the transfer and discharge process will be executed expeditiously. They will strictly adhere to all safety protocols.
India imports 88 per cent of its crude oil, 60 per cent of LPG and 50 per cent of natural gas. The Gulf is the major source for India’s requirements, accounting for over half of its crude requirements, almost 90 per cent of LPG and 30 per cent of gas. After the war stopped supplies from the region, India has started buying oil from Russia.
The Indian government has also stepped up the domestic production of LPG, up by more than 35 per cent. It has also directed the major oil refiners to shift to LPG production from petrochemicals manufacturing by diverting propane, butane and other streams.
The initiatives launched by the government have resulted in a fall in LPG refill bookings to the 5 million to 5.5 million level. They had shot up last week to 7.7 million to 8.8 million following fears of a crisis in supplies.
Sujata Sharma, joint secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, told the media that all refineries are operating at full capacity and even petrol pumps across the country are functioning normally. Natural gas supplies to CNG and PNG customers including CNG car owners is also at the normal level.
Sharma asserted that adequate quantity of crude oil is available in India and all refineries are operating at peak capacity. Petrol pumps too are functioning normally, she said.
