Govt sets daily LPG production target of 63,810 tonnes for 21 companies

The petroleum ministry has mandated maximum LPG production levels of 63.81 thousand metric tonnes per day (KTPD) for 24 refinery and upstream companies, strengthening domestic cooking gas supplies. Reliance Industries has the highest target at 18 KTPD, followed by BPCL's Kochi refinery at 4.80 KTPD and Nayara Energy at 4.48 KTPD.

The August 13 order, amending the 1999 petroleum products order, requires public, joint-venture and private refineries to develop adequate LPG storage and transport infrastructure. Livemint reports that refiners have already raised output to 54,000 tonnes per day from a pre-war level of 36,000 tonnes, after the West Asia conflict disrupted imports via the Strait of Hormuz. The government can direct companies to ramp up production if needed in the public interest.

India imports about 65% of its annual 33 million tonnes of LPG, costing nearly $11 billion. The government will update the production schedule twice yearly on January 1 and July 1. Violations are punishable under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.