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

The repercussions of a war being fought nearly a significant distance away are now being felt in India's homes.

As aerial attacks on Iran impede energy transports through the Strait of Hormuz, availability of cooking gas are shrinking across India, forcing restaurants to cut menus, reduce operating times and in some cases shut down altogether.

Social media is awash with video clips showing queues outside cooking-gas dealers across Indian cities and towns as worries over fuel supplies spread. Restaurant kitchens appear the hardest struck: the most severe shortage is in restaurant kitchens.

"The situation is dire. Cooking gas simply cannot be found," says a spokesperson of the an industry group.

Most food outlets run either on commercial LPG cylinders or direct gas lines, and the shortages are now being felt across the country. "A lot of restaurants have closed - some in northern India, many in the southern region. People are turning to coal and wood and electric cookers to keep food preparation going."

Localized Effects

In Mumbai, media reports say up to a 20% of hotels and restaurants are already operating at reduced capacity as business fuel stocks tighten. In the southern cities of tech and coastal hubs, some establishments say their fuel reserves have shrunk with little backup. "Coffee is the sole item we can prepare and no food items - it is extremely difficult. Commerce will take a hit," says a restaurant owner in Bengaluru.

Restaurant managers are seeking alternatives. "Menus are being curtailed, some are opening only for dinner and reducing hours," an industry representative says, adding that stoppages are varying as supplies ebb and flow. "Three restaurants in Delhi were shut yesterday - some have resumed operations. It's a fluid situation."

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

Official Position

Yet, the government insists there is adequate supply.

India has more than a vast number of home fuel subscribers and officials say cylinders are being reallocated to households as geopolitical strain from the Middle East conflict affect energy markets.

Roughly six out of ten of India's LPG is imported, and about nine out of ten of those shipments pass through the critical waterway, the strategic bottleneck now significantly disrupted by the hostilities.

The petroleum ministry says that it directed refineries to maximise LPG output for domestic use, enhancing domestic production by about a significant margin. Business-grade fuel is being reserved for essential sectors such as healthcare and education, while distribution will be "equitable and clear".

"Some panic booking and stockpiling has been triggered by false reports. The normal delivery cycle for home fuel remains about under three days," says a government spokesperson.

Spreading Anxiety

Now the anxiety is spreading beyond kitchens. On social media, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a extended procession of scooters outside a petrol pump. "The panic is real," the description reads.

According to data from energy specialists, concerns about India's broader petroleum stocks may be exaggerated.

India imports the overwhelming majority of its crude oil. Around a significant portion of its petroleum shipments - about 2.5 to 2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the passage, largely from Gulf countries.

Even if crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted, the shortfall could be partly offset by higher imports of Russian petroleum, according to a refinery and oil markets analyst.

Based on shipping data and expert analysis, incremental Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, reducing India's effective gap from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about 1.6 million barrels a day.

"Around 25-30 million Russian oil barrels are currently on the water in the Indian Ocean and, with only India and China as major buyers, those barrels remain a available backup," an analyst noted.

Cooking Gas: The Critical Weakness

The real vulnerability is LPG, experts note.

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

Refineries can tweak operations to produce a bit more LPG, but even a moderate increase would only lift domestic supply to about 47-50% of demand, leaving the country significantly leaning on imports.

In short: "Oil import vulnerability can be somewhat alleviated through diversification. Processed petroleum stocks remains relatively comfortable. LPG availability is the key factor to watch in the coming weeks."

What may be worsening the anxiety on the ground is not just scarcity but uneven distribution - and the common threat of stockpiling.

An industry representative alleges exploitative practices.

"Suppliers are misusing the situation - black-marketing cylinders and selling them at a high cost. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and auctioned off."

For now, India's energy imports may be buffered by worldwide shipping. But in restaurants across the country, the more urgent issue is simple: how to get the next cylinder.