Digital Phablet

Tag: LPG

  • India Graveyard Raid Finds Hidden Cooking Gas Canisters Amid Shortage

    India Graveyard Raid Finds Hidden Cooking Gas Canisters Amid Shortage

    Indian authorities recently confiscated 414 cooking gas cylinders hidden inside a Hyderabad graveyard, arresting those attempting to sell them illegally amid ongoing shortages linked to the Iran conflict. A government spokesperson announced Thursday that law enforcement agencies launched over 2,600 raids in recent days, seizing approximately 700 gas canisters. Among the confiscated items, 400 cylinders were found at a graveyard site, leading to the detention of ten individuals and the suspension of a distributor implicated in the activity.

    The suspects were reportedly selling both commercial and household gas tanks at nearly triple the current market rate, with a commercial cylinder valued at around 2,100 rupees (approximately $22) being sold for up to 6,000 rupees. The combined worth of the seized cylinders and vehicles used in the black market trade neared 2.2 million rupees. Officials assured that natural gas supplies to households remain fully secured, noting that LPG prices have stayed stable despite international upheavals, and there have been no increases in retail prices.

    To mitigate the pressure on LPG supplies, India is promoting alternative energy sources such as kerosene, coal, and biogas, while also expediting the expansion of natural gas pipelines for residential use. The country’s reliance on imports — particularly from the Middle East, accounting for roughly 60% of its LPG needs — makes supply chain disruptions due to geopolitical conflicts a major concern.

  • India’s Poor Turn to Wood and Coal Amid Gas Shortages

    India’s Poor Turn to Wood and Coal Amid Gas Shortages

    Protesters from India’s opposition Congress party demonstrated in New Delhi on March 13, 2026, protesting against rising fuel prices and shortages of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

    In the city’s low-income Madanpur Khadar neighborhood, 36-year-old domestic worker Sheela Kumari revealed that she has had to stop using LPG cylinders for cooking after prices more than doubled. “We used to buy cylinders for around 1,800-2,000 rupees ($19-$21), but now on the black market, it’s up to 5,000 rupees ($53),” she said, which is nearly her entire monthly salary of 6,000 rupees ($63). “It’s unbelievable for us,” she added, explaining that their best alternative was reverting to firewood and coal.

    Kumari explained that a 14-kilogram cylinder only lasts 15 to 20 days for her family of six, even when carefully managed. She pointed out that a 10-kilogram bundle of firewood, which lasts several days, costs just 30 rupees ($0.30). “It affects our health—my children cough,” she said. “But what else can I do?”

    Her neighbor, 45-year-old Munni Bai, who suffers from asthma, has switched temporarily to using an electric stove and biogas made from cow dung to breathe easier. However, she says she’s now compelled to rely on other fuels because gas has become prohibitively expensive. “Gas costs too much,” she noted. “We can’t depend on it—so we shifted from coal and wood due to health issues, but it’s hard to stay sustainable now.”

    Activists emphasize that access, rather than just shortages, is at the root of the problem. Many migrant workers lack the documentation required for subsidized LPG and turn to informal markets, where hoarding has driven prices up two to three times. “There isn’t a major shortage yet, but hoarding is increasing,” said Deepak, a representative from the Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR). “Many rely on black-market cylinders, and prices are soaring.”

    New Delhi and its sprawling metropolitan area of 30 million are routinely ranked among the world’s most polluted capitals. Emissions from power plants, vehicles, and the burning of garbage and crops combine to create deadly air quality.

    For decades, India has promoted the “Ujjwala” initiative to provide over 100 million poor households with access to LPG, aiming to replace indoor use of wood, coal, and biomass, which exposes families to dangerous smoke and toxic particles. Women and children, who spend the most time near cooking fires, are especially vulnerable to respiratory illnesses caused by indoor air pollution.

  • India secures US gas deal amid Trump-era pressure

    India secures US gas deal amid Trump-era pressure

    India has announced a major agreement with the United States to import nearly 10% of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from U.S. sources, marking a move toward energy diversification. The deal, signed on Monday, is set for one year and involves importing 2.2 million tons of LPG annually from the U.S. Gulf Coast, accounting for a significant portion of India’s LPG needs. This is the first structured U.S. LPG contract tailored for the Indian market.

    Relations between Washington and New Delhi experienced a downturn in August, after President Donald Trump increased tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, amid accusations from U.S. officials that India is contributing to Russia’s conflict in Ukraine by purchasing discounted Russian oil. Trump also claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to reduce Russian oil imports as part of broader trade negotiations, although India has not officially confirmed this.

    Despite ongoing discussions, disagreements persist on various issues, including agricultural trade and Russian energy imports. India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, highlighted that the new deal will help diversify India’s LPG sources, positioning the U.S. as one of the country’s major suppliers. Puri emphasized that this agreement represents a pioneering step for U.S. LPG exports to India, underlying India’s broader effort to secure reliable and affordable energy supplies.

    In response to sanctions imposed by Washington, Indian entities like HPCL-Mittal Energy have ceased Russian crude purchases, and Reliance Industries is evaluating the impact of U.S. and EU restrictions. Despite these geopolitical tensions, India’s economy — the world’s fifth-largest — grew at its fastest rate in five quarters in the quarter ending June 30, driven by increased government spending and stronger consumer confidence. However, analysts warn that U.S. tariffs could reduce India’s GDP growth by 0.6 to 0.8 percentage points if measures are not relaxed soon.