The LPG carrier Shivalik arrived at Gujarat’s Mundra Port on Monday carrying around 46,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a shipment expected to temporarily ease supply pressure for domestic consumers amid disruptions in global energy routes, officials said.
The vessel, a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) owned by the Shipping Corporation of India, is carrying a quantity of LPG equivalent to around 3.24 million standard 14.2-kg domestic cylinders — roughly 32.4 lakh cylinders used by Indian households.
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Officials said that the cargo alone could meet nearly one day of India’s total LPG import requirement, underscoring the significance of the shipment at a time when supply chains are under strain due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Government sources said port authorities have been directed to prioritise the discharge of LPG from both the Shivalik and another LPG carrier, Nanda Devi, immediately after they dock.
Distribution of the gas will follow a priority order mandated by the government. Households will be served first, followed by hospitals and educational institutions, with supplies to other commercial users allocated on a case-by-case basis.
HORMUZ TENSIONS DISRUPT ENERGY FLOWS
The arrival of the Shivalik comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions in West Asia. Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but critical shipping corridor between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
The route handles around 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas trade, making it one of the most strategically important energy transit points globally.
Earlier on Saturday, two Indian-flagged LPG carriers — Shivalik and Nanda Devi — carrying a combined 92,712 metric tonnes of LPG successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz. According to Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Shipping Ministry, the vessels were scheduled to reach Indian ports on March 16 and March 17 respectively.
INDIA’S RELIANCE ON ENERGY IMPORTS
India depends heavily on imports to meet its energy needs. The country imports about 88 per cent of its crude oil, 50 per cent of natural gas, and around 60 per cent of its LPG requirements.
A significant portion of these supplies originates from West Asian producers. More than half of India’s crude imports, roughly 30 per cent of gas imports, and nearly 85-90 per cent of LPG imports come from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, most of it transported through the Strait of Hormuz.
SUPPLY CURBS RIPPLE THROUGH INDUSTRIES
The disruption in the Strait has begun affecting multiple sectors across India. While the government has partly offset crude oil supply disruptions by sourcing additional shipments from countries including Russia, gas supplies have been curtailed for industrial users.
Commercial establishments that rely heavily on LPG have already felt the impact. Hotels and restaurants are receiving only about one-fifth of their normal LPG supplies, forcing some establishments to drop slow-cooked dishes that require large amounts of cooking gas.
Several industries — including brick and tile manufacturing, ceramics production and glass kilns — are also struggling to maintain operations amid tighter fuel availability.
Essential services have not been spared either. Crematoriums, hospital kitchens and commercial laundries are reporting difficulties in sustaining regular activity, while bakeries, street-food vendors and community kitchens say they have begun scaling down production.
CRACKDOWN ON HOARDING
With LPG supplies tightening, authorities have stepped up monitoring to prevent hoarding and black marketing.
Control rooms have been established across several states, while enforcement teams have conducted raids in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Mizoram as part of efforts to stabilise distribution and ensure priority supply to households.
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(With inputs from Aishwarya Patil.)
Published By:
Sahil Sinha
Published On:
Mar 16, 2026 20:11 IST
