🔗 Share this article ‘An Alarming State of Affairs’: Hostilities on Iran Tightens India's Kitchen Fuel Stock. People line up to buy fuel canisters for domestic use in a major Indian city. The repercussions of a war being fought nearly 1,864 miles away are now reaching India's households. As aerial attacks on Iran hinder energy transports through the vital shipping lane, supplies of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are dwindling across India, compelling restaurants to reduce offerings, shorten hours and in some cases shut down altogether. Social media is awash with video clips showing lines outside cooking-gas dealers across Indian cities and towns as worries over fuel supplies spread. Restaurant kitchens appear the worst hit: the most severe shortage is in commercial eateries. "The situation is dire. Kitchen fuel simply is unavailable," says a official of the an industry group. Most food outlets run either on industrial fuel canisters or piped gas, and the lack of supply are now being noticed across the country. "Many restaurants have closed - some in northern India, many in the southern states. People are switching to coal and wood and induction stoves to keep food preparation going." City-Specific Fallout In a financial hub, local news say up to a 20% of hotels and restaurants are already completely or partially closed as commercial LPG supplies dwindle. In the southern cities of tech and coastal hubs, some eateries say their cylinder inventory have shrunk with little backup. "We can only make coffee and nothing else - it is extremely difficult. Businesses are going to suffer," says a business operator in Bengaluru. A food joint in Chennai which has shut down due to a shortage of LPG. Restaurant operators are seeking alternatives. "Food options are being cut, some are skipping midday meals and opening only for dinner," an industry representative says, adding that stoppages are varying as supplies come and go. "A number of eateries in Delhi were shut yesterday - some have resumed operations. It's a dynamic scenario." Retailers observe a increase in sales of electronic cooking appliances, with some saying they are running out of them. Official Position Yet, the officials states there is sufficient stock. India has more than 300 million domestic LPG users and spokespersons say cylinders are being reallocated to households as tensions from the Middle East conflict ripple through energy markets. Approximately 60% of India's LPG is sourced from abroad, and about the vast majority of those shipments pass through the key maritime route, the narrow Gulf chokepoint now effectively closed by the conflict. The petroleum ministry says that it directed refineries to boost LPG output for domestic use, raising domestic production by about a quarter. Business-grade fuel is being prioritised for essential sectors such as healthcare and education, while distribution will be "fair and transparent". "Unnecessary hoarding and stockpiling has been triggered by misinformation. The regular refill period for domestic LPG remains about under three days," says a government spokesperson. Widening Concern Now the anxiety is extending beyond kitchens. On online networks, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a long, snaking queue of two-wheelers outside a gas outlet. "Concern is genuine," the caption reads. India brings in up to a vast majority of the petroleum it consumes, leaving it highly exposed to interruptions in global supplies. According to data from industry analysts, concerns about India's broader fuel supplies may be overstated. India imports 90% of its crude oil. Around a significant portion of its petroleum shipments - about 2.5-2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the waterway, largely from Middle Eastern nations. Even if oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are blocked, the deficit could be partly made up by higher imports of discounted Russian crude, according to a industry commentator. Based on shipping data and industry information, additional Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, narrowing India's effective shortfall from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about 1.6 million barrels a day. "Around 25-30 million Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only two major Asian economies as major buyers, those barrels remain a available backup," an analyst noted. Kitchen Fuel: The Primary Concern The primary concern is LPG, experts note. India consumes roughly 1 million barrels a day, but produces only less than half domestically, importing the rest - 80–90% through the Strait. Refineries can tweak operations to produce a bit more LPG, but even a limited rise would only raise domestic supply to about around half of demand, leaving the country heavily reliant on imports. In short: "Petroleum shortage concerns can be somewhat alleviated through diversification. Processed petroleum stocks remains fairly adequate. Cooking gas supply is the key factor to watch in the coming weeks." What may be heightening the concern on the ground is not just tight supply but erratic supply chains - and the familiar spectre of hoarding. An industry representative claims exploitative practices. "Suppliers are misusing the situation - illegally trading canisters and selling them at a premium. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and sold to the highest bidder." For now, India's petroleum stocks may be cushioned by global trade flows. But in restaurants across the country, the more urgent issue is simple: how to get the next refill.
People line up to buy fuel canisters for domestic use in a major Indian city. The repercussions of a war being fought nearly 1,864 miles away are now reaching India's households. As aerial attacks on Iran hinder energy transports through the vital shipping lane, supplies of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are dwindling across India, compelling restaurants to reduce offerings, shorten hours and in some cases shut down altogether. Social media is awash with video clips showing lines outside cooking-gas dealers across Indian cities and towns as worries over fuel supplies spread. Restaurant kitchens appear the worst hit: the most severe shortage is in commercial eateries. "The situation is dire. Kitchen fuel simply is unavailable," says a official of the an industry group. Most food outlets run either on industrial fuel canisters or piped gas, and the lack of supply are now being noticed across the country. "Many restaurants have closed - some in northern India, many in the southern states. People are switching to coal and wood and induction stoves to keep food preparation going." City-Specific Fallout In a financial hub, local news say up to a 20% of hotels and restaurants are already completely or partially closed as commercial LPG supplies dwindle. In the southern cities of tech and coastal hubs, some eateries say their cylinder inventory have shrunk with little backup. "We can only make coffee and nothing else - it is extremely difficult. Businesses are going to suffer," says a business operator in Bengaluru. A food joint in Chennai which has shut down due to a shortage of LPG. Restaurant operators are seeking alternatives. "Food options are being cut, some are skipping midday meals and opening only for dinner," an industry representative says, adding that stoppages are varying as supplies come and go. "A number of eateries in Delhi were shut yesterday - some have resumed operations. It's a dynamic scenario." Retailers observe a increase in sales of electronic cooking appliances, with some saying they are running out of them. Official Position Yet, the officials states there is sufficient stock. India has more than 300 million domestic LPG users and spokespersons say cylinders are being reallocated to households as tensions from the Middle East conflict ripple through energy markets. Approximately 60% of India's LPG is sourced from abroad, and about the vast majority of those shipments pass through the key maritime route, the narrow Gulf chokepoint now effectively closed by the conflict. The petroleum ministry says that it directed refineries to boost LPG output for domestic use, raising domestic production by about a quarter. Business-grade fuel is being prioritised for essential sectors such as healthcare and education, while distribution will be "fair and transparent". "Unnecessary hoarding and stockpiling has been triggered by misinformation. The regular refill period for domestic LPG remains about under three days," says a government spokesperson. Widening Concern Now the anxiety is extending beyond kitchens. On online networks, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a long, snaking queue of two-wheelers outside a gas outlet. "Concern is genuine," the caption reads. India brings in up to a vast majority of the petroleum it consumes, leaving it highly exposed to interruptions in global supplies. According to data from industry analysts, concerns about India's broader fuel supplies may be overstated. India imports 90% of its crude oil. Around a significant portion of its petroleum shipments - about 2.5-2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the waterway, largely from Middle Eastern nations. Even if oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are blocked, the deficit could be partly made up by higher imports of discounted Russian crude, according to a industry commentator. Based on shipping data and industry information, additional Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, narrowing India's effective shortfall from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about 1.6 million barrels a day. "Around 25-30 million Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only two major Asian economies as major buyers, those barrels remain a available backup," an analyst noted. Kitchen Fuel: The Primary Concern The primary concern is LPG, experts note. India consumes roughly 1 million barrels a day, but produces only less than half domestically, importing the rest - 80–90% through the Strait. Refineries can tweak operations to produce a bit more LPG, but even a limited rise would only raise domestic supply to about around half of demand, leaving the country heavily reliant on imports. In short: "Petroleum shortage concerns can be somewhat alleviated through diversification. Processed petroleum stocks remains fairly adequate. Cooking gas supply is the key factor to watch in the coming weeks." What may be heightening the concern on the ground is not just tight supply but erratic supply chains - and the familiar spectre of hoarding. An industry representative claims exploitative practices. "Suppliers are misusing the situation - illegally trading canisters and selling them at a premium. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and sold to the highest bidder." For now, India's petroleum stocks may be cushioned by global trade flows. But in restaurants across the country, the more urgent issue is simple: how to get the next refill.