India has begun turning to alternate sources for fuel as tensions in the Middle East start to affect supplies. The government has said it is actively managing the situation, even as concerns rise around LPG availability and global energy disruptions.
GOVERNMENT SHIFTS FOCUS TO ALTERNATE SUPPLIES
Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing and Oil Refinery), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said India is already seeing the impact of the ongoing conflict.
She said that nearly 90% of India’s LPG imports were earlier routed through the Strait of Hormuz, making the country vulnerable to disruptions in the region.
To deal with this, India is now sourcing some LPG from the US, while LNG supplies are being arranged from countries such as Australia and Russia. “We are trying to pick up resources from alternative sources,” she said, adding that efforts are underway to stabilise supply.
LPG SITUATION REMAINS TIGHT ON THE GROUND
Despite these steps, the situation around LPG remains under pressure. Sharma said there has been improvement in online booking, with around 93% of consumers now using digital platforms.
However, she admitted that long queues are still being seen at several distributor points.
She urged consumers to remain patient and avoid crowding at distribution centres. After booking online, people should wait for home delivery instead of visiting distributors, she said, assuring that cylinders will reach households.
CONFLICT TURNS INTO AN ‘OIL WAR’
The global situation has taken a serious turn. What began as a military confrontation between the US-Israel alliance and Iran has now expanded into attacks on energy infrastructure.
For the first time, both sides have targeted facilities linked to oil and gas production. This has raised fears that energy supply itself is becoming a tool in the conflict.
The shift became clear when Israel struck the South Pars gas field, which Iran shares with Qatar. This field is the largest in the world and plays a major role in global LNG supply, including shipments to India.
The strike led to an immediate jump in oil and gas prices, reflecting how critical the facility is.
Iran responded with attacks on major energy sites across the region. These included the Samref refinery linked to Saudi Aramco, as well as gas facilities in Qatar and the UAE.
The Habshan gas facility in the UAE, one of the world’s largest processing centres, and the Bab oil field were also targeted, though many of the incoming missiles were intercepted.
WIDER RISKS FOR GLOBAL ENERGY MARKETS
The conflict has also spread to Kuwait, where key refineries, including the Mina Al-Ahmadi facility, were hit. While officials said the damage was contained, visuals of large fires raised concerns globally.
With multiple energy hubs under threat, the risk to global supply chains has increased sharply. For countries like India, which depend heavily on imports, this means higher costs and tighter supply in the near term.
As the situation evolves, India’s focus remains on securing fuel from multiple sources and keeping supplies steady, even as global uncertainty continues to grow.
