The heat of the war raging in West Asia has now directly reached our kitchens and yours. Amidst the sudden shortage of gas cylinders (LPG), a fuel which we had almost forgotten is making a comeback in our lives…Kerosene i.e. kerosene. Due to the ongoing military conflict between Iran and America-Israel, the energy supply at the global level has severely deteriorated. Due to disruption in the supply of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, the government has again taken a major decision after a decade. The allocation of kerosene for domestic use has been increased, along with temporary permission to burn coal and biomass in hotels and restaurants.
Why did the gas suddenly start decreasing?
India is the third largest oil importing country in the world, which buys about 88 percent of its total requirement from abroad. Due to the ongoing tension in West Asia, the movement of commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz has almost come to a standstill. This is the same sea route from where India gets 25 to 27 lakh barrels of crude oil every day. Apart from this, 55 percent of the country’s LPG and 30 percent of the LNG is also supplied through this route.
In view of this supply constraint, petroleum companies have given priority to domestic LPG. This has had a direct impact on commercial gas cylinders. There has been a huge cut in gas supply to hotels, restaurants and other commercial consumers, causing a severe fuel crisis in the hospitality sector.
New quota of kerosene in hotels and restaurants
To meet the gas shortage, the government has turned to alternative fuels. Giving relief to the hospitality sector, environmental regulatory bodies have given special permission for the use of fuels like biomass, RDF pellets and coal for one month.
At the same time, to avoid shortage of LPG for cooking in common homes, kerosene has returned. The government has allocated an additional 48,000 kiloliters of kerosene over and above the regular quota of one lakh kiloliters given to the states. Such an increase has been made in the quota of this fuel after more than a decade.
New rule of 45 days to stop gas hoarding
Due to rumors of gas shortage in the market, panic has spread among the people and there has been a sudden surge in booking of LPG cylinders. The Petroleum Ministry has clarified that there is no real shortage of gas, rather people are making additional bookings in panic.
The government has taken a strict step to stop this hoarding and ensure equitable distribution. Now the minimum period for next booking of subsidized cylinder in rural areas has been increased from 21 days to 45 days. However, for urban areas this limit has been kept only at 25 days. It is a matter of relief that the average delivery time of LPG in the country is still only 2.5 days. Domestic production has been increased by about 28 percent and supplies are being ensured from 40 different countries like America, Norway, Canada and Russia.
Kerosene oil was once the pride of the kitchen, then why did it disappear?
Today you may be surprised to hear the name of kerosene, but there was a time when it was a necessity for every house from village to city. The cultural significance of this fuel can also be seen in Phanishwarnath Renu’s famous story Panchlight. From lighting lanterns to cooking food on the stove, it was an important part of everyday life.
This light fuel, produced at a temperature between petrol and diesel when crude oil is refined, was once very cheap and accessible. But, according to government data (NSO), its use declined by 26 percent annually between 2013-14 and 2022-23. The biggest reason behind this was the government’s move towards clean energy. Dependence on kerosene ended due to electricity reaching every village, spread of solar panels and free LPG connections under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. In the year 2014, Delhi was also declared the first kerosene-free city of the country. After this, due to the cessation of subsidy on ration shops in 2019, this fuel became out of reach of the common man. Now, in the shadow of global war, this old friend is once again turning to the kitchen.
Also read- Why did the government have to change the rules of LPG booking? This is the reason