‘A Critical Scenario’: Conflict on Iran Squeezes India's Cooking-Gas Supplies.

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

As aerial attacks on Iran impede energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, availability of cooking gas are shrinking across India, compelling restaurants to reduce offerings, shorten hours and in some cases shut down altogether.

Social media is awash with video clips showing queues outside LPG distributors across Indian urban and rural areas as concerns over fuel supplies spread. Businesses appear the hardest struck: the sharpest squeeze is in commercial eateries.

"The situation is dire. Kitchen fuel simply is unavailable," says a representative of the a major restaurant body.

Most restaurants run either on business-grade gas tanks or pipeline-supplied fuel, and the scarcities are now being felt across the country. "Many restaurants have closed - some in the capital, many in the south. People are turning to traditional burners and induction stoves to keep food preparation going."

City-Specific Fallout

In a financial hub, media reports say up to a fifth of hospitality businesses are already operating at reduced capacity as cylinder availability dry up. In the southern cities of Bangalore and Madras, some restaurants say their gas stocks have dwindled with scarce alternatives. "We can only make coffee and no food items - it is extremely difficult. Operations will be impacted," says a chain proprietor in Bengaluru.

Restaurant owners are rushing to adjust. "Menus are being curtailed, some are skipping midday meals and opening only for dinner," an industry representative says, adding that shutdowns are fluctuating as supplies ebb and flow. "A number of eateries in Delhi were shut yesterday - some have resumed operations. It's a changing landscape."

Retailers report a surge in sales of electronic cooking appliances, with some saying they are facing stockouts.

Authority's View

Yet, the government states there is sufficient stock.

India has more than 300 million domestic LPG users and authorities say stocks are being redirected to households as geopolitical strain from the war in the Gulf affect energy markets.

Roughly 60% of India's LPG is sourced from abroad, and about nine out of ten of those imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow Gulf chokepoint now effectively closed by the conflict.

The oil ministry says that it directed refineries to maximise LPG output for home needs, enhancing domestic production by about 25%. Business-grade fuel is being prioritised for essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions, while distribution will be "just and open".

"Unnecessary hoarding and accumulation has been caused by rumors. The normal delivery cycle for home fuel remains about under three days," says a senior official.

Widening Concern

Now the worry is extending beyond kitchens. On digital platforms, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a extended procession of two-wheelers outside a fuel station. "The panic is real," the caption reads.

According to data from industry analysts, concerns about India's broader energy security may be premature.

India imports 90% of its petroleum. Around a significant portion of its oil purchases - about 2.5-2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the passage, largely from regional suppliers.

Even if crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz are blocked, the deficit could be partly compensated for by higher imports of discounted Russian crude, according to a industry commentator.

Based on maritime intelligence and industry information, increased Russian crude imports could reach around a significant volume of barrels a day, lessening India's effective shortfall from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about 1.6 million barrels a day.

"Tens of millions of Russian oil barrels are currently on the water in the Indian Ocean and, with only two major Asian economies as major buyers, those barrels remain a viable alternative," an analyst noted.

LPG: The Real Vulnerability

The real vulnerability is cooking gas, experts note.

India consumes roughly 1 million barrels a day, but produces only a minority share domestically, importing the rest - 80–90% through the chokepoint.

Refineries can adjust processes to extract a bit more LPG, but even a limited rise would only lift domestic supply to about around half of demand, leaving the country heavily reliant on imports.

In short: "Oil import vulnerability can be moderately reduced through diversification. Fuel availability remains relatively comfortable. Cooking gas supply is the key factor to monitor in the coming weeks."

What may be heightening the panic on the ground is not just tight supply but uneven distribution - and the familiar spectre of panic buying.

An industry representative alleges price gouging.

"Retailers are exploiting the situation - selling fuel on the black market and selling them at a inflated price. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being accumulated and sold at a premium."

For now, India's petroleum stocks may be cushioned by international market dynamics. But in kitchens across the country, the more immediate question is simple: how to get the next gas canister.