LPG Shortage Hits Punjab as Bathinda Refinery Undergoes Repairs

A significant shortage of LPG cylinders is affecting domestic consumers in Punjab, parts of Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. The issue arises as the Guru Gobind Singh Refinery in Bathinda has been temporarily shut down for repairs, disrupting the supply chain from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL). What typically takes one to two days for deliveries is now stretching to ten days or more.

The shutdown comes during a peak demand season for LPG cylinders, exacerbating the gap between supply and demand. Distributors in the region report increased pressure from consumers, with complaints rising over the past few weeks. Local administration officials have begun to notice the mounting frustration among residents.

Supply Chain Disruption and Company Response

According to sources, the reduction in supply began approximately two weeks ago, leading to escalating complaints to local authorities. In response to the crisis, Preet Kamal Singh Sood, the food and supplies controller for Hoshiarpur district, has convened a meeting with HPCL LPG dealers and company officials to address the situation.

In a statement, Abhishek Srivastava, HPCL’s chief regional manager, acknowledged the delays, attributing them to the reliance on supplies from Kandla while the Bathinda facility is offline. He assured that the company is working to mitigate the waiting period and expects operations at the Bathinda refinery to resume on December 19, 2023. “We have already managed to bring down the time lag, and the situation will be restored to normal within a few days,” he said.

The impact of this supply disruption is felt most acutely by households reliant on LPG for cooking and heating. With the winter season approaching, the urgency for a resolution is paramount. As the meeting convenes, stakeholders hope to find immediate solutions to improve supply and alleviate consumer concerns.

The situation underscores the critical role of local refineries in maintaining consistent energy supplies, particularly in regions where alternative sources may not be readily available. The upcoming discussions could pave the way for better management of such outages in the future.