‘An Alarming State of Affairs’: War on Iran Tightens India's Cooking-Gas Supplies.
The repercussions of a military engagement being fought nearly 3,000km away are now being felt in India's kitchens.
As military actions on Iran impede energy transports through the key maritime chokepoint, stocks of kitchen fuel are tightening across India, forcing restaurants to cut menus, reduce operating times and in some cases close completely.
Social media is filled with video clips showing queues outside fuel suppliers across Indian urban and rural areas as anxieties over fuel supplies grow. Businesses appear the most affected: the sharpest squeeze is in commercial eateries.
"The state of affairs is alarming. Cooking gas simply cannot be found," says a official of the a major restaurant body.
Most restaurants run either on business-grade gas tanks or direct gas lines, and the scarcities are now being noticed across the country. "Many restaurants have ceased operations - some in Delhi, many in the south. People are switching to solid fuels and electric cookers to keep kitchens going."
Localized Effects
In Mumbai, local news say up to a significant portion of eateries are already operating at reduced capacity as business fuel stocks tighten. In the southern cities of tech and coastal hubs, some establishments say their gas stocks have depleted with scarce alternatives. "Coffee is the sole item we can prepare and no food items - it is extremely difficult. Operations will be impacted," says a business operator in Bengaluru.
Restaurant operators are scrambling to adapt. "Menus are being curtailed, some are opening only for dinner and opening only for dinner," an industry representative says, adding that closures are fluctuating as supplies come and go. "A number of eateries in Delhi were shut yesterday - two have already reopened. It's a dynamic scenario."
Retailers report a surge in sales of induction stoves, with some saying they are selling out quickly.
Authority's View
Yet, the government insists there is adequate supply.
India has more than 30 crore domestic LPG users and authorities say stocks are being prioritized to households as tensions from the Middle East conflict ripple through energy markets.
About a majority of India's LPG is brought in from overseas, and about 90% of those consignments pass through the key maritime route, the strategic bottleneck now significantly disrupted by the conflict.
The petroleum ministry says that it instructed refineries to boost LPG output for domestic use, enhancing domestic production by about a quarter. Business-grade fuel is being prioritised for essential sectors such as medical and academic centers, while distribution will be "equitable and clear".
"Unnecessary hoarding and accumulation has been triggered by false reports. The standard supply timeline for domestic LPG remains about two-and-a-half days," says a senior official.
Spreading Anxiety
Now the worry is spreading beyond kitchens. On social media, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a extended procession of motorbikes outside a fuel station. "Anxiety is palpable," the caption reads.
According to data from energy specialists, concerns about India's broader petroleum stocks may be exaggerated.
India imports almost all of its crude oil. Around half of its oil purchases - about 2.5-2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the strait, largely from Middle Eastern nations.
Even if petroleum transit through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted, the shortfall could be partly offset by higher imports of Russian petroleum, according to a refinery and oil markets analyst.
Based on shipping data and expert analysis, increased Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, reducing India's effective deficit from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about 1.6 million barrels a day.
"Around 25-30 million Russian oil barrels are currently in transit at sea in the Indian Ocean and, with only two major Asian economies as major buyers, those barrels remain a ready fallback," an analyst noted.
Cooking Gas: The Critical Weakness
The primary concern is cooking gas, commentators observe.
India consumes roughly one million barrels a day, but produces only a minority share domestically, importing the rest - 80–90% through Hormuz.
Refineries can adjust processes to extract a bit more LPG, but even a limited rise would only increase domestic supply to about under half of demand, leaving the country largely dependent on imports.
In short: "Petroleum shortage concerns can be partially mitigated through diversification. Refined product supply remains largely sufficient. LPG availability is the real variable to watch in the coming weeks."
What may be worsening the panic on the ground is not just scarcity but erratic supply chains - and the usual problem of hoarding.
An industry representative claims exploitative practices.
"Retailers are exploiting the situation - selling fuel on the black market and selling them at a high cost. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being stockpiled and sold to the highest bidder."
For now, India's energy imports may be buffered by worldwide shipping. But in homes across the country, the more urgent issue is simple: how to get the next gas canister.
