India urges households to reduce reliance on LP Gas

India is encouraging families to use more piped natural gas (PNG) as the country faces energy challenges due to the ongoing war. This change could alter cooking methods for millions. Many homes in both cities and villages in India depend on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders for cooking, which are delivered to various locations, from tall apartment buildings to small rural areas. Over the past few years, the infrastructure for PNG – gas delivered through pipelines – has been growing, with more than 15 million households connected across the nation. India, with a population of 1.4 billion, imports a large portion of its LPG from the Middle East, whereas the PNG supply relies less on imports. “We produce 50% of our PNG domestically. So, it is in the nation's interest to switch from LPG to PNG,” said Sujata Sharma, joint secretary in the petroleum ministry. This week, the government mandated an expansion of the natural gas infrastructure and instructed households in areas with piped gas to transition within three months of receiving a notice by mail. Those who do not comply may lose their LPG supply, according to the order. This has raised concerns among some residents. “Our whole neighborhood uses LPG,” mentioned Chandra Tandon, a grocery store owner in Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar area. She stated she was not aware of the notice and did not know how to make the switch.