The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has issued a fresh directive requiring all domestic LPG consumers to complete their biometric Aadhaar authentication, or e-KYC. Officials have clarified that the process can be handled from home via the Aadhaar FaceRD app and the respective mobile applications of oil marketing companies, though consumers can also visit their local distributors for assistance.
The move comes at a particularly strained time for the country's energy sector. The increasing tensions in West Asia, with the US and Israel carrying out strikes against Iran, have led to a near-complete standstill in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. This has led to a supply crisis in the country, with the cost of a standard 14.2kg cylinder in Delhi rising by ₹60 to touch ₹913. For commercial users, the increase has been even more pronounced, with 19kg cylinders now being sold for ₹1,884.50 which is an increase of ₹115.
This scarcity has in turn given rise to a spate of panic buying and hoarding activities. In Bengaluru, in the Kengeri district, a shopkeeper was recently caught by the police for hoarding cylinders from different brands with the intention of selling them at a high premium. In Delhi, the Delhi police have cancelled leave for their personnel to ensure that there is no hoarding of the gas cylinders by monitoring their storage facilities round the clock.
To manage the dwindling stocks, the Delhi government has introduced a temporary rationing policy, capping the supply of commercial LPG at just 20 per cent of the city’s typical daily consumption. Although necessary services such as hospitals and schools continue to be on the list of priorities, the rest of the hospitality industry is being encouraged to adopt electric induction or alternative cooking methods as the industry prepares for a long period of disruption.
Also read: 2 Indian LPG carriers Shivalik, Nanda Devi cross Strait of Hormuz
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