‘An Alarming State of Affairs’: Conflict on Iran Squeezes India's Cooking-Gas Availability.

The repercussions of a war being fought nearly 3,000km away are now being felt in India's homes.

As aerial attacks on Iran impede energy transports through the Strait of Hormuz, availability of cooking gas are shrinking across India, compelling restaurants to reduce offerings, reduce operating times and in some cases shut down altogether.

Social media is awash with video clips showing lines outside fuel suppliers across Indian cities and towns as concerns over fuel supplies grow. Businesses appear the most affected: the sharpest squeeze is in food service establishments.

"The situation is dire. Cooking gas simply cannot be found," says a representative of the National Restaurant Association of India.

Most food outlets run either on industrial fuel canisters or direct gas lines, and the shortages are now being felt across the country. "Numerous restaurants have ceased operations - some in Delhi, many in the south. People are switching to traditional burners and electronic appliances to keep kitchens going."

Regional Impact

In a financial hub, accounts say up to a fifth of hospitality businesses are already operating at reduced capacity as business fuel stocks dry up. In the southern cities of Bangalore and Madras, some establishments say their gas stocks have depleted with minimal reserves. "We can only make coffee and no other dishes - it is truly dismal. Businesses are going to suffer," says a business operator in Bengaluru.

Restaurant managers are rushing to adjust. "Food options are being cut, some are skipping midday meals and reducing hours," an industry representative says, adding that stoppages are changing as supplies come and go. "Several establishments in Delhi were shut yesterday - two have already reopened. It's a fluid situation."

Retailers note a increase in sales of induction stoves, with some saying they are running out of them.

Authority's View

Yet, the government states there is no shortage.

India has more than 30 crore home fuel subscribers and officials say stocks are being prioritized to households as geopolitical strain from the Middle East conflict impact energy markets.

Roughly six out of ten of India's LPG is brought in from overseas, and about the vast majority of those shipments pass through the critical waterway, the vital passage now largely blocked by the war.

The relevant department says that it directed refineries to maximise LPG output for household consumption, enhancing domestic production by about 25%. Business-grade fuel is being reserved for vital industries such as healthcare and education, while distribution will be "equitable and clear".

"Some panic booking and hoarding has been caused by false reports. The normal delivery cycle for domestic LPG remains about 60 hours," says a ministry representative.

Growing Panic

Now the anxiety is extending beyond kitchens. On online networks, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a extended procession of two-wheelers outside a gas outlet. "The panic is real," the description reads.

According to data from energy specialists, concerns about India's broader fuel supplies may be overstated.

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

Even if crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz are hindered, the shortfall could be partly offset by higher imports of Russian petroleum, according to a industry commentator.

Based on shipping data and credible market sources, additional Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, lessening India's effective shortfall from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about 1.6 million barrels a day.

"Tens of millions of Russian oil barrels are currently in transit at sea 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, experts note.

India consumes roughly 1 million barrels a day, but produces only less than half domestically, importing the rest - most of it through the Strait.

Refineries can tweak operations to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a limited rise would only lift domestic supply to about 47-50% of demand, leaving the country significantly leaning on imports.

In short: "Petroleum shortage concerns can be moderately reduced through diversification. Refined product supply remains relatively comfortable. Cooking gas supply is the critical issue to watch in the coming weeks."

What may be heightening the concern on the ground is not just tight supply but uneven distribution - and the common threat of hoarding.

An industry representative alleges price gouging.

"Distributors are taking advantage of the situation - black-marketing cylinders and selling them at a premium. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being accumulated and sold to the highest bidder."

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