India LPG to PNG Shift April 2026 – Strait of Hormuz and Energy Security

In April 2026, India's strategic push to shift from LPG to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) for domestic cooking gained urgency primarily because of disruptions caused by:

Correct Answer: Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz exposing India's LPG import vulnerability

In April 2026, the West Asia geopolitical crisis and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz exposed a critical vulnerability in India's energy security. Since approximately 90% of India's LPG imports transit through this narrow chokepoint, the disruption created urgency for India to strategically shift towards Piped Natural Gas (PNG) for domestic cooking.

Key Facts: India's LPG Dependence

• India imports about 60% of its total LPG consumption.
• Around 90% of those imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
• India currently has approximately 33 crore LPG connections.
• PNG penetration remains limited at about 1.5 crore connections, with a target to expand to 12 crore by 2034.

Key Difference: LPG vs. PNG

• LPG: Propane and butane; heavier than air; stored in cylinders under pressure; higher calorific value (90–95 MJ/m³).
• PNG: Primarily methane; lighter than air; supplied continuously via pipelines; lower calorific value (35–40 MJ/m³) but safer (disperses quickly on leakage).
• India's domestic PNG comes primarily from the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin, Assam, and Tripura.

Why Other Options Are Wrong

• KG Basin depletion — India is actually working to boost KG Basin output (KG-DWN 98/2 Block expected to raise ONGC's gas output by 15%).
• WTO regulations on PMUY — Not cited as a driver of the PNG push.
• Net-zero pledges — While relevant to long-term energy policy, the immediate trigger in 2026 was the Strait of Hormuz disruption.