Hormuz energy crunch: Centre rolls out PDS kerosene in 60-day relief push to ease LPG pressure on consumers

As global energy supplies come under strain due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, the Centre has introduced a temporary measure to ease pressure on cooking fuel availability in the country. Under the 60-day emergency plan, announced on Monday, states and Union Territories will receive additional kerosene for essential household use, including cooking and lighting.The decision also signals a short-term reintroduction of kerosene in 21 regions where it had previously been phased out or classified as PDS SKO-free. This step is intended to ensure that households facing shortages of LPG continue to have access to a basic source of energy. To facilitate this, the ministry of petroleum and natural gas has authorised selected fuel stations in kerosene-free regions to store and distribute Superior Kerosene Oil for household consumption. According to the notification, up to two fuel stations in each district, preferably company-owned outlets run by public sector oil firms, will be allowed to stock up to five thousand litres of kerosene.In order to speed up the process, certain licensing requirements for dealers and transporters have been relaxed, although safety and monitoring standards will continue to be enforced. The ministry has clarified that this provision is strictly for kerosene meant for household cooking and lighting.This move comes after the government sanctioned an additional 48,000 kilolitres of kerosene over and above regular allocations for all States and Union Territories. Local administrations have been asked to identify district-level distribution points. Earlier, 17 States and Union Territories received SKO allocation orders, while Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh maintained that they do not require any such allocation. These include regions like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.At the same time, enforcement efforts have been stepped up to curb irregularities in the energy supply chain. Authorities have carried out nearly 2,900 raids in recent days, seizing close to 1,000 cylinders as part of action against hoarding and black marketing. States have also been instructed to intensify monitoring, conduct daily briefings, counter misinformation, and speed up approvals for gas-related infrastructure. "The government reiterates its advice to the public not to believe rumours," the statement said.Amid these developments, a section of consumers has begun shifting away from LPG. As of Saturday, 6,000 piped natural gas (PNG) users had surrendered their LPG connections. "6000 PNG consumers surrendered their LPG till yesterday! A big thanks to them!!" said the secretary, ministry of petroleum and natural gas Neeraj Mittal on X.In terms of supply management, the government has prioritised domestic and transport needs, ensuring full allocation for PNG and CNG segments. Industrial and commercial users are currently receiving around 80% of their average consumption, while fertiliser plants are operating at 70–75% capacity. Additional LNG cargoes are also being arranged, as part of efforts to secure fuel and gas supplies, according to a government statement reported by PTI.