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

The repercussions of a conflict being fought nearly 1,864 miles away are now being felt in India's households.

As US-Israeli strikes on Iran disrupt energy shipments through the key maritime chokepoint, availability of kitchen fuel are dwindling across India, forcing restaurants to cut menus, close earlier and in some cases cease operations entirely.

Social media is filled with video clips showing crowds outside cooking-gas dealers across Indian urban and rural areas as concerns over fuel supplies escalate. Businesses appear the most affected: the most severe shortage is in restaurant kitchens.

"The state of affairs is alarming. Cooking gas simply cannot be found," says a spokesperson of the an industry group.

Most restaurants run either on commercial LPG cylinders or pipeline-supplied fuel, and the lack of supply are now being felt across the country. "Numerous restaurants have closed - some in Delhi, many in the southern region. People are switching to traditional burners and electronic appliances to keep kitchens going."

Localized Effects

In a western metro, media reports say up to a fifth of hospitality businesses are already completely or partially closed as commercial LPG supplies dry up. In the southern cities of Bengaluru and Chennai, some establishments say their cylinder inventory have dwindled with minimal reserves. "Our menu is reduced to coffee and nothing else - it is truly dismal. Commerce will take a hit," says a restaurant owner in Bengaluru.

Restaurant managers are seeking alternatives. "Offering lists are shrinking, some are opening only for dinner and reducing hours," an industry representative says, adding that shutdowns are changing as supplies ebb and flow. "A number of eateries in Delhi were shut yesterday - some have resumed operations. It's a dynamic scenario."

Retailers observe a surge in sales of induction stoves, with some saying they are selling out quickly.

Official Position

Yet, the officials maintains there is sufficient stock.

India has more than 300 million domestic LPG users and spokespersons say supplies are being prioritized to households as conflict-related stress from the Middle East conflict ripple through energy markets.

Roughly 60% of India's LPG is brought in from overseas, and about the vast majority of those imports pass through the key maritime route, the narrow Gulf chokepoint now significantly disrupted by the hostilities.

The oil ministry says that it ordered refineries to boost LPG output for household consumption, lifting domestic production by about a significant margin. Non-domestic supply is being allocated for essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions, while distribution will be "fair and transparent".

"A degree of anxious stocking and hoarding has been caused by false reports. The regular refill period for home fuel remains about two-and-a-half days," says a ministry representative.

Widening Concern

Now the anxiety is spreading beyond kitchens. On online networks, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a extended procession of scooters outside a petrol pump. "Concern is genuine," the description reads.

According to data from energy specialists, concerns about India's broader petroleum stocks may be exaggerated.

India imports the overwhelming majority of its crude oil. Around half of its oil purchases - about millions of barrels a day - travel through the waterway, largely from Middle Eastern nations.

Even if petroleum transit through the Strait of Hormuz are blocked, the gap could be partly made up by higher imports of discounted Russian crude, according to a refinery and oil markets analyst.

Based on maritime intelligence and credible market sources, incremental Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, narrowing India's effective deficit from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about 1.6 million barrels a day.

"Tens of millions of Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only two major Asian economies as major buyers, those barrels remain a available backup," an analyst noted.

Kitchen Fuel: The Primary Concern

The primary concern is kitchen fuel, analysts say.

India consumes roughly 1 million barrels a day, but produces only a minority share domestically, importing the rest - 80–90% through the chokepoint.

Refineries can modify output to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a limited rise would only lift domestic supply to about around half of demand, leaving the country significantly leaning on imports.

In short: "Oil import vulnerability can be somewhat alleviated through diversification. Fuel availability remains largely sufficient. Kitchen fuel stocks is the critical issue to track in the coming weeks."

What may be intensifying the panic on the ground is not just scarcity but erratic supply chains - and the usual problem of stockpiling.

An industry representative claims opportunistic profiteering.

"Retailers are misusing the situation - black-marketing cylinders and selling them at a premium. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being accumulated and auctioned off."

For now, India's energy imports may be protected by worldwide shipping. But in kitchens across the country, the more pressing concern is simple: how to get the next refill.