PNG stable, CNG prices may see hike

Indore: The Iran-Israel war may not have a major impact on domestic PNG supply in Madhya Pradesh, but CNG supplied to vehicles and ING for industries are likely to see a sharp price hike, owing to reduced supplies.Aavantika Gas Limited marketing head Manish Verma said that gas prices in market rose sharply due to the current war situation, putting pressure on city distributors. "The rates at which we are procuring gas went up significantly because of the ongoing war. Despite that, we are trying to keep prices as low as possible for consumers, but the pressure on costs is very high," he said."As major part of industrial and commercial gas comes from the war-affected region, we are not in a position to determine how much the price may increase for this segment; however, upstream suppliers have invoked a clause ‘force majeure' that would excuse them from unforseen circumstances without penalties, but gas supply shall be uninterrupted for sure," Verma said.He said, "Domestic PNG supply will largely remain unaffected and continuity will be maintained. But there could be pressure on CNG and industrial natural gas (ING). Change in prices may happen depending on how the war situation evolves."Verma added that the situation remains fluid and any major escalation in the conflict could influence supply costs and pricing in the coming days."We will maintain uninterrupted gas supply to cities of Indore, Gwalior, Ujjain, Pithampur and highways under our jurisdiction. Also, gas supply shall be cut first to those domestic PNG and industrial and commercial consumers, who have long-standing outstanding bill with Aavantika Gas," he said.As of now, CNG stations across Indore are operating normally and the city has not yet seen long queues. However, many vehicle owners are beginning to show caution amid concerns about possible supply disruptions.In Indore, CNG supplied by Aavantika Gas Limited, is widely used by auto drivers, cab operators and private vehicle owners. Operators at several stations said supply remained steady, though a slight rise in demand was noticed as motorists preferred to refill early.Several commuters said they are not facing any difficulty at the stations yet, but are keeping a close watch on the situation and avoiding running their tanks empty."I filled my car today without any problem. There was no long queue, but people at the station were discussing whether supply could get affected. Because of that, many of us are refilling earlier than usual," said Rohit Sharma, a resident of Vijay Nagar.Autorickshaw drivers, who depend on CNG for their daily earnings, said they are particularly alert. "Right now, the supply is smooth and the line was normal. But if there is any shortage later, it will affect our work. That is why I am trying to refill whenever I get time," said autorickshaw driver Irfan Khan.Another commuter said the mood at stations reflects caution rather than panic. "There is no rush at pumps yet. Still, people are not taking chances and are topping up their tanks. Everyone wants to avoid getting stuck if the supply slows down," said Sunita Jain, who was refilling her vehicle at a CNG station in city.