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Informist, Tuesday, Mar. 10, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – The Centre has directed natural gas producers, marketers, and pipeline operators to prioritise supply to four sectors amid disruptions faced by liquefied natural gas shipments due to the ongoing war in West Asia, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said in an order. The order was issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and came into effect from Monday.

 

Under priority sector I, 100% of the average gas consumption during the previous six months must be maintained for domestic piped natural gas supply, compressed natural gas used in transport, liquefied petroleum gas production including shrinkage requirements, and essential pipeline operational needs such as compressor fuel. This is subject to operational availability.

 

Under priority sector II, fertiliser plants must be supplied 70% of their average gas consumption over the past six months, subject to operational availability. This is on the condition that the gas is used strictly for fertiliser production and a certificate to this effect is furnished to the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell through the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers.

 

Under priority sector III, gas marketing entities need to ensure that supply to tea industries, manufacturing, and other industrial consumers through the national gas grid is maintained at 80% of their past six-month average gas consumption, subject to operational availability.

 

In priority sector IV, all city gas distributors must ensure that industrial and commercial consumers supplied through their networks receive 80% of their past six-month average gas consumption, subject to operational availability.

 

To meet the above directions, the government order provides for full or partial curtailment of gas supplied to select areas, in order of priority – petrochemical facilities, followed by power plants. As per the order, oil refining companies are to absorb the impact of the supply disruption to the extent feasible by reducing gas allocation to refineries to approximately 65% of the past six-month gas consumption. 

 

GAIL Ltd., in coordination with the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell, has been tasked with management of supplies of natural gas to implement the above directions.  End

 

Reported by Shakshi Jain

Edited by Tanima Banerjee

 

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