Thiruvananthapuram: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has made Aadhaar-based biometric e-KYC mandatory for all LPG consumers across India. The ministry said the verification process can be completed easily and free of cost using a smartphone from home. The move aims to ensure that LPG connections are held by genuine consumers and that accurate consumer records are maintained. Authorities believe the step will help streamline LPG distribution and ensure subsidies and benefits reach eligible households without disruption. Consumers have been urged to complete the verification soon to avoid any interruption in future LPG services.
In a notification issued on March 9, the government also announced that LPG production units using domestic natural gas will now receive priority allocation. Earlier, priority was given mainly to CNG and piped natural gas sectors, but LPG has now been added to the priority list. This means that the requirements of LPG, CNG and piped gas producers will be addressed first before supplying natural gas to other sectors.
The decision comes amid a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders in several parts of the country. To manage the crisis, the government invoked provisions of the Essential Commodities Act to regulate the distribution of commercial cylinders. The shortage has affected hotels and restaurants in major cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad, with some establishments forced to shut down temporarily.
To examine the sudden shortage, the ministry has formed a committee comprising three executive directors from public sector oil companies. India consumes about 31.3 million tonnes of LPG annually, with nearly 87% used for domestic purposes and the rest supplied to commercial establishments.
The LPG crisis is also linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East. Ongoing military actions involving the United States and Israel against Iran have disrupted maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz. This crucial sea route carries about one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil and nearly one-third of global LNG exports, connecting Gulf energy supplies to global markets.
