Govt Bars LPG Cylinders For PNG Households To Boost Piped Gas Rollout

New Delhi: The central government has prohibited households that already have piped natural gas (PNG) connections from retaining or obtaining domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders. According to Business Standard, the decision was taken as authorities push to expand piped gas usage and manage cooking gas supplies more efficiently. 

The directive follows an amendment issued on March 14 by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order, 2000 under the Essential Commodities Act. Under the revised rules, consumers who already receive cooking gas through PNG pipelines must immediately surrender their domestic LPG connections. 

The updated order also restricts government oil marketing companies and their distributors from issuing new LPG connections or providing cylinder refills to households that already have access to PNG. Officials stated that individuals with a piped gas connection cannot hold or use LPG cylinders supplied through government companies or their authorised distributors. 

Authorities said the move is intended to avoid duplication of domestic cooking fuel connections and prioritise LPG distribution for households that do not have access to piped gas infrastructure. The policy also aligns with efforts by the energy sector regulator to accelerate the expansion of city gas distribution networks across urban areas.

India relies heavily on imports for its energy requirements, including LPG and natural gas. Prior to the recent geopolitical tensions in West Asia, a significant portion of the country’s crude oil, natural gas and LPG imports came from Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Disruptions to supply routes in the region have prompted authorities to focus on improving domestic energy distribution and optimising available resources. 

Officials believe the policy will help ensure that LPG cylinders remain available for households without PNG access, while also encouraging the wider adoption of piped gas systems in cities. By reducing overlapping connections, the government aims to streamline cooking fuel supply and strengthen the country’s overall energy management framework. 

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