‘The Situation is Dire’: War on Iran Squeezes India's Cooking-Gas Availability.

The ripple effects of a conflict being fought nearly 3,000km away are now being felt in India's kitchens.

As military actions on Iran disrupt energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, stocks of cooking gas are dwindling 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 LPG distributors across Indian metros and localities as concerns over fuel supplies spread. Restaurant kitchens appear the hardest struck: the biggest crunch is in commercial eateries.

"The situation is dire. LPG simply isn't available," says a spokesperson of the National Restaurant Association of India.

Most eateries run either on commercial LPG cylinders or pipeline-supplied fuel, and the lack of supply are now being experienced across the country. "A lot of restaurants have closed - some in the capital, many in the southern states. People are switching to solid fuels and electric cookers to keep their operations going."

City-Specific Fallout

In a western metro, local news say up to a fifth of eateries are already operating at reduced capacity as business fuel stocks dwindle. In the southern cities of Bangalore and Madras, some establishments say their gas stocks have shrunk with scarce alternatives. "Coffee is the sole item we can prepare and no food items - it is extremely difficult. Operations will be impacted," says a chain proprietor in Bengaluru.

Restaurant operators are rushing to adjust. "Menus are being curtailed, some are opening only for dinner and opening only for dinner," an industry representative says, adding that shutdowns are varying as supplies wax and wane. "Three restaurants in Delhi were shut yesterday - a couple are back in business. It's a changing landscape."

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

Government Stance

Yet, the officials states there is sufficient stock.

India has more than 30 crore domestic LPG users and spokespersons say supplies are being reallocated to households as tensions from the regional hostilities impact energy markets.

About a majority of India's LPG is brought in from overseas, and about 90% of those imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the vital passage now effectively closed by the hostilities.

The relevant department says that it ordered refineries to boost LPG output for household consumption, lifting domestic production by about 25%. Commercial stock is being prioritised for essential sectors such as healthcare and education, while distribution will be "fair and transparent".

"Unnecessary hoarding and accumulation has been triggered by misinformation. The regular refill period for home fuel remains about two-and-a-half days," says a senior official.

Spreading Anxiety

Now the concern is spreading beyond kitchens. On social media, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a extended procession of scooters outside a gas outlet. "The panic is real," the text reads.

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

India imports 90% of its crude oil. Around a significant portion of its petroleum shipments - about 2.5 to 2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the waterway, largely from Gulf countries.

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 industry commentator.

Based on vessel tracking and industry information, incremental Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, lessening India's effective deficit from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about 1.6 million barrels a day.

"Around 25-30 million 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 primary concern is LPG, experts note.

India consumes roughly a million barrels a day, but produces only 40-45% domestically, importing the rest - most of it through the Strait.

Refineries can adjust processes to produce a bit more LPG, but even a moderate increase would only lift domestic supply to about around half of demand, leaving the country significantly leaning on imports.

In short: "Crude supply risk can be moderately reduced through diversification. Refined product supply remains fairly adequate. Cooking gas supply is the critical issue to watch in the coming weeks."

What may be heightening the anxiety on the ground is not just scarcity but erratic supply chains - and the usual problem of hoarding.

An industry representative alleges opportunistic profiteering.

"Distributors are exploiting the situation - selling fuel on the black market and selling them at a premium. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being stockpiled and sold to the highest bidder."

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