Reference News Network, March 17 report: According to EFE news agency on March 15, as the world's second-largest importer of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), India is currently facing an unprecedented national energy crisis due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz caused by the Middle East conflict.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India stated that the disruption of this key maritime route threatens the kitchen fuel supply for more than 333 million Indian households, forcing the government to launch rationing and wartime conservation measures.

India's vulnerability is structural. According to data from the Indian Center for Petroleum Planning and Analysis, about 60% of India's LPG is imported, with 90% of the transportation passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Different from China, the world's largest LPG importer, China's LPG is mainly used in the petrochemical industry, while India's LPG is primarily for household use, serving as a core pillar of household food security. Any supply disruption could become a catalyst for social unrest.

The Indian government has, under the Essential Commodities Act, redirected industrial resources to basic consumer needs. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that domestic refineries have been ordered to stop plastic production and increase the output of civilian LPG.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stated that this production adjustment increased domestic LPG production by 30%, compensating for the decline in sea freight arrivals.

Additionally, the Indian government has stipulated that new gas cylinders purchased in urban areas should be at least 25 days apart, and in rural areas at least 45 days apart, to curb hoarding. According to data from the Secretariat of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, panic buying has caused daily demand to surge from 5.5 million bottles to 7.6 million bottles, causing market chaos.

The All India Restaurant Association said that the fuel shortage is "catastrophic," with the industry losing between 120 million to 130 million rupees (about 13 million to 14 million U.S. dollars) per day.

In cities like Mumbai, restaurant associations warned that 20% of restaurants have already closed. The Ministry of Environment has granted temporary permission for commercial kitchens to use firewood and coal to avoid a complete collapse of the catering industry.

Although vehicle LPG accounts for only 0.2% of the country's consumption, India has 440 refueling stations that supply millions of vehicles, mainly taxis and three-wheelers.

In coastal cities like Chennai, nearly a quarter of the three-wheelers have stopped operating due to a lack of fuel; drivers still operating must queue overnight at a few open refueling stations to refuel.

Owing to panic buying triggered by public fear, a black market has emerged, selling gas cylinders at prices far higher than the official price.

To crack down on black market transactions, the Indian government has expanded the coverage of distribution authentication codes to 90%, and strengthened police raids in regions such as Maharashtra, where large quantities of illegally hoarded gas cylinders have been seized.

Despite the severe situation, Puri assured Parliament that the civil supply is fully secured.

The Indian authorities have called on the public to avoid blind purchasing, while accelerating the promotion of 600,000 households switching to piped natural gas to ease the pressure on the gas cylinder supply system. (Translated by Han Chao)

Original: toutiao.com/article/7618133985306968622/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.