Government Efforts to Address LPG and LNG Supply Amidst Global Crisis

The Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, convened to discuss and assess strategies to mitigate the effects of the ongoing global crisis due to the war in West Asia. Key points from the meeting included initiatives to ensure the availability of critical resources such as petroleum products, power, and fertilizers.

Key Measures and Strategies

• Sourcing and Supply Diversification:
  • LPG and LNG supplies are being diversified with new sources from different countries to ensure steady inflow and availability.
• Stabilizing Domestic Prices:
  • LPG prices for domestic consumers have been kept stable.
  • Regular enforcement actions are being taken to curb hoarding and black marketing.
• Power Supply Measures:
  • Gas-based power plants with a capacity of 7-8 GW have been exempted from the gas pooling mechanism.
  • Efforts are being made to increase the supply of coal to thermal power stations.

Fertilizer Availability and Supply Chain Management

• Ensuring Fertilizer Supply:
  • Maintaining domestic urea production and coordinating with overseas suppliers for DAP/NPK.
  • State governments are involved in curbing black marketing and hoarding through monitoring and enforcement actions.
• Monitoring of Prices:
  • Retail prices of food commodities have remained stable with constant monitoring in place.
  • Control rooms have been established for real-time interaction with States/UTs.

Global Diversification and Coordination Efforts

• International Initiatives:
  • Efforts are being made to secure safe passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Diplomatic efforts are ongoing to strengthen international cooperation.
• Enhanced Coordination:
  • Proactive measures and real-time communication across various levels of government are prioritized to ensure effective dissemination of information and public awareness.

Empowered Groups and Strategic Planning

• Formation of Empowered Groups:
  • Seven Empowered Groups of Secretaries have been established to monitor the impact of the West Asia conflict and propose strategic interventions.
• Sectoral Impact and Preventive Measures:
  • Sectoral impacts and measures to prevent black-marketing of fertilizers and LPG were discussed.
  • The groups presented their strategies at a meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.