‘The Situation is Dire’: Conflict on Iran Squeezes India's Cooking-Gas Supplies.

The ripple effects of a war being fought nearly 3,000km away are now reaching India's households.

As military actions on Iran impede energy transports through the key maritime chokepoint, availability of cooking gas are dwindling across India, pushing restaurants to reduce offerings, shorten hours and in some cases cease operations entirely.

Social media is flooded by video clips showing queues outside fuel suppliers across Indian cities and towns as anxieties over fuel supplies grow. Commercial LPG users appear the worst hit: the sharpest squeeze is in commercial eateries.

"Conditions are critical. Cooking gas simply cannot be found," says a official of the a major restaurant body.

Most eateries run either on industrial fuel canisters or direct gas lines, and the shortages are now being felt across the country. "Many restaurants have shut down - some in Delhi, many in the south. People are adopting coal and wood and electric cookers to keep kitchens going."

Regional Impact

In a financial hub, local news say up to a fifth of hotels and restaurants are already completely or partially closed as business fuel stocks dwindle. In the southern cities of Bengaluru and Chennai, some establishments say their fuel reserves have depleted with scarce alternatives. "Coffee is the sole item we can prepare and no food items - it is nothing less than pathetic. Operations will be impacted," says a business operator in Bengaluru.

Restaurant managers are rushing to adjust. "Menus are being curtailed, some are cutting lunch service and operating solely in the evening," an industry representative says, adding that shutdowns are changing as supplies ebb and flow. "Three restaurants in Delhi were shut yesterday - two have already reopened. It's a fluid situation."

Retailers report a surge in sales of electronic cooking appliances, with some saying they are facing stockouts.

Authority's View

Yet, the authorities states there is sufficient stock.

India has more than 30 crore domestic LPG users and officials say stocks are being prioritized to households as conflict-related stress from the regional hostilities ripple through energy markets.

About six out of ten of India's LPG is sourced from abroad, and about 90% of those consignments pass through the key maritime route, the vital passage now largely blocked by the hostilities.

The petroleum ministry says that it ordered refineries to maximise LPG output for domestic use, lifting domestic production by about a significant margin. Business-grade fuel is being reserved for critical services such as medical and academic centers, while distribution will be "just and open".

"Unnecessary hoarding and hoarding has been sparked by rumors. The regular refill period for home fuel remains about two-and-a-half days," says a ministry representative.

Spreading Anxiety

Now the anxiety is moving beyond kitchens. On digital platforms, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a extended procession of motorbikes outside a fuel station. "The panic is real," the caption reads.

According to data from market experts, concerns about India's broader energy security may be exaggerated.

India imports 90% of its oil. Around 50% of its petroleum shipments - about 2.5 to 2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the strait, largely from Middle Eastern nations.

Even if oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted, the shortfall could be partly compensated for 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, narrowing India's effective shortfall from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about 1.6 million barrels a day.

"Around 25-30 million Russian oil barrels are currently on the water in the Indian Ocean and, with only India and China as major buyers, those barrels remain a ready fallback," an analyst noted.

Cooking Gas: The Critical Weakness

The key weakness is cooking gas, analysts say.

India consumes roughly one million barrels a day, but produces only 40-45% domestically, importing the rest - 80–90% through the chokepoint.

Refineries can tweak operations to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a 10-20% boost would only increase domestic supply to about 47-50% of demand, leaving the country largely dependent on imports.

In short: "Crude supply risk can be partially mitigated through varied suppliers. Refined product supply remains fairly adequate. LPG availability is the real variable to watch in the coming weeks."

What may be heightening the anxiety on the ground is not just limited availability but erratic supply chains - and the usual problem of hoarding.

An industry representative states price gouging.

"Retailers are taking advantage of the situation - illegally trading canisters and selling them at a high cost. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and sold at a premium."

For now, India's oil supplies may be buffered by international market dynamics. But in kitchens across the country, the more urgent issue is simple: how to get the next cylinder.